With its dvd release on Tuesday, The Avengers is an absolutely amazing movie!  Movie favorites Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, Captain America, along with Black Widow and Hawkeye, are forced to join forces to battle the evil Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.  Loki and his alien forces steal a device called the tesseract which gives its owner unlimited power.  In our heroes effort to save the world, the movie teaches us several important leadership lessons.

  • Engage Young People – When I attended the movie, I noticed initial the advertisements contained two commercials linking children to the Avengers franchise through toys and apps.  Successful franchises and churches create raving fans at an early age.
  • Churches Should Minimize Or Completely Eliminate Announcements – The movie also contained two or three too many previews.  At a certain point, you are like “Can we get to the movie already!?”  It was a reminder to me that people do not go to church to hear announcements.  Just a thought.
  • The Value Of Time – To fully engage leaders you must respect them by valuing the one commodity that cannot be replaced once it is gone, TIME.  This movie does an incredible job of giving seven super-heroes adequate screen time.
  • Limit Exposure – The tesseract created a portal to another universe.  The problem comes in that not only do we have access to the other universe, but it also has access to us.  Successful leaders guard their hearts, their vision, and their organizations and limit potentially damaging exposure.
  • “Until the world ends we will act like it spins on.” – As Loki’s reign of terror was becoming a serious threat, Nick Fury played by Samuel L. Jackson said those words to bring stability and a sense of direction.  This is a best practice of leaders during times of crisis.
  • “I am burdened with glorious purpose.” – Though misguided, Loki’s words are an accurate reflection of leaders who have a desire to do something significant with their lives and influence.
  • “An ant has no quarrel with a boot.” – Loki reminds us that effective leaders recognize things they can control vs. things they cannot.
  • “There is only one God.  I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” – Captain America was right when referring to Thor.  There is no god like our God.
  • “War isn’t won by sentiment.  It’s won by soldiers.” – Al Capone once said, “You can get farther with a kind word and a gun than a kind word alone.”  Leaders understand that effective vision requires additional resources.
  • “Trying to get me back in the world?” asks Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America.  “Trying to save it” responds Fury – Leaders understand that the answer to every problem is a person.
  • “Looks like Earth might need something a little old-fashioned.” – When trying times come, a return to fundamentals is often the best course of action.
  • “It is the unspoken truth of humanity.  You crave subjugation.  You (humans) were made to be ruled.  In the end, you will always kneel.” – The words spoken by Loki to a group of wealthy Germans is actually true.  Humans have a King that either in this life or in eternity, we will kneel to.  His name is Jesus.
  • “We need a plan of attack.” – Rogers “I have a plan – ATTACK!” responds Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr.  Leaders are people of action and make things happen.
  • “Your world is in the balance and you bargain for one man.” – While trying to rescue Hawkeye, Loki says these words to Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson.  These words resonated with me because if I was the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for me.
  • “We’re (not) a team…We’re a time bomb.” – Leaders understand that chemistry is just as important as competence.
  • “You people are so petty…and tiny.” – Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, reminds leaders that they are rendered small when they act petty.
  • “You lack conviction.” – Leaders will ultimately fail when they do not completely own the vision they have been given.
  • Present An Urgent Need – High capacity leaders “need a push” to assemble their collective efforts.  Because their time is limited, leaders must be presented with an urgent need to fully engage them.
  • Skill To Task – Because of his military background, Captain America handled all logistics and assignments when the climatic battle with alien forces took place in New York City.  When operating in a team environment, always assign tasks based upon skill.
  • The Value Of A Team – No single Avenger could have stopped Loki and his army.  However, collectively they were able to achieve their objective.
  • “I’m always angry.” – Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, illustrates that all high-capacity leaders are always deeply burdened about their calling.
  • “Hulk SMASH!” – High capacity leaders often only need simple instruction and clear objectives.  The Hulk only needed a single word.
  • Humor – Near the end of the movie, The Hulk twice does something absolutely hysterical.  There are very few things leaders can do to endear themselves to others more than effectively using humor.
  • Leadership Is Earned – People respond to accomplishment.  The NYPD did not want to follow Captain America’s instructions until he easily dismantled four aliens.  Afterwards, they quickly carried out his suggestions.
  • Opportunities Are Often Disguised As Problems – The use of a nuclear bomb by Iron Man, which had the potential for massive damage, was used for good.  Great leaders see great opportunity where others only see a lack of options.
  • Popularity – Near the end of the film, the response of the rescued public was split over whether they appreciated the efforts of The Avengers.  Leaders cannot carry out their responsibilities for the purpose of acclaim, which is fleeting.  Great leaders focus on life change and significance.
  • Wonderfully Surprise People – *SPOILER ALERT* – The Marvel movies are famous for having a brief clip at the end of the credits setting up a future film.   The Avengers has a brief clip both IN the credits as well as after.

In closing, The Avengers is an absolute blast!  Make sure you pick up the dvd.

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