Leadership lessons from Disney movies

The Incredibles

Disney-Pixar’s 2004 superhero movie follows the traditional narrative of good versus evil. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of suppressing diversity, not adequately promoting top-talent and what happens when competitors are not monitored.

When watching, consider the government as the management of a company and the superheroes as a diverse range of ultra-talented employees. The government has got it all wrong: the superheroes are in unsuitable roles; their talents suppressed. Mr. Incredible, the central superhero, is forced to work in an undersized cubicle as an insurance claims administrator, hiding his talents from the public. He could be working to thwart an unmonitored competitor, the villainous Syndrome, who is working to destroy the government’s hold on power - and almost does so.