Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and Superman: Leadership Skills We Can Use
Most are familiar with the stories of Harry Potter, Star Wars and Superman.
If you’re a fan of these stories you might be aware of the striking similarities between the three main characters – Harry Potter, Clark Kent, and Luke Skywalker.
The similarities with these three characters are striking.
All three lost their parents at a young age. They lived their young lives with no idea of their true, remarkable identities.
As each grew older, their true identities were revealed to them. This put the characters on remarkable journeys.
Harry had the task of going to Hogwarts and become a wizard. Luke ventured on the journey to master the Force and become Jedi. Clark had to learn how to carry the burden of his powers while living in secret and saving the world.
As part of their journeys, each character had a mentor.
Harry had Albus Dumbledore, Luke had Obi-wan Kenobi and Yoda, and Clark had his adopted father.
These mentors taught the young heroes about life while guiding them through the obstacles each would face as they strived to fulfill their destinies while battling various evils. All three super heroes were challenged to go on and save the world.
These are just some of the many similarities that have been noted between these characters. In the literary world, their story line is known as the hero’s journey.
Why people are so captivated by the story of heroes like Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and Clark Kent? The reason is the Hero’s Complex, and it is something we look for.
In this article we will exam The Hero Complex and how it ties into leadership in every day life.
The Hero and The Hero Complex
The 20th century psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about human complexes. Jung saw a complex as a universal concept that stretched across time and cultures. He saw a complex as being driven from a universal source and resonated with mankind. He identified a mother complex, a father complex, and a hero complex among many others. Each complex drives within us how we expect particular people to act.
One complex that he described was The Hero Complex. We expect heroes to act in a certain way. Jung viewed The Hero Complex as a positive part of human life. Each of the fictional characters mentioned above – Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and Clark Kent – fit the hero’s complex. The authors of each of the characters knew that we would relate closely to their stories.
Each character was devoted to the accomplishment of their particular tasks: defeating Voldemort, defeating Darth Vader, saving the world.
The Hero Complex and Leadership Skills
The Hero Complex is useful when it comes to understanding what your staff is looking for in their manager. Part of being a strong leader is being able to commit their efforts to a common goal.
In our three fictional stories, each of the characters convinced those around them to trust them and to help them accomplish each mission.
This is key when tapping into the Hero Complex to build success as a leader. Earning trust and getting people to commit to your cause is the sign of a successful leader.
This is what a strong leader (Hero) does.
Define the “Enemy”
Jung stated that one characteristic of the Hero was the tendency to find a common enemy. This is one way an individual, a “hero,” can rally others around him or herself.
In business, the enemy may not be so clear-cut as it often is in fiction, but enemies do exist in real life and people respond to them.
In your day-to-day business life, the enemy you face is usually something simple (and hopefully less life-threatening) – competition, time to complete a project or outside forces pushing against your growth.
Whatever it is, you can gain the loyalty, the support and the enthusiasm for your growth goals by clearly defining what it is that you are fighting for and against.
Define what you are fighting against and how it is you plan to defeat that “enemy”. By making sure people see and understand the battles you are fighting you will gain trust and support.
Following the Heroes’ Example
Heroes have three common attributes:
- Heroes have a desire to solve problems.
- Heroes are convinced of their moral understanding of right and wrong.
- Heroes put the needs of others above their own.
In the field of psychology, this is a characteristic known as altruism. It is a characteristic that sparks great admiration towards those displaying it.
There is tremendous respect to be gained if you demonstrate a willingness to put others’ needs above your own. The effect is even greater when you show a desire to help those around you to the absolute best of your ability.
That, many would say, is truly what makes a good leader.
Strive for good, for the good of those you’re leading and you are nearly guaranteed to earn loyalty and trust.
Leader vs. Hero
Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, and Clark Kent are all considered to be heroes. But these characters are fictional. Their stories cannot be taken as exact road maps to becoming a modern-day hero.
To be a successful leader, you don’t need magical powers or a fantastical destiny. But by tapping into The Hero Complex we all share, you can work towards truly mastering your leadership skills.
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