Career "Leadership" Insights from "The Internship" Movie

 Career "Leadership" Insights from "The Internship" Movie

   

 

Last month, a group of friends and I had the opportunity to watch the movie "The Internship" which featured Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as two mid-career traveling watch salesmen who land an internship at Google after finding themselves out of work because of their company closing down.  Shockingly this movie was better than I thought it would be.  It provided real life lessons for job seekers and members of the younger generation who desire career leadership success in the 21st Century.  Moreover, as a national speaker with a passion to empower the next generation of leaders in America, I was able to discover some key leadership and career skills that every individual must consider if they are going to obtain career and leadership success in the 21st Century. 
 
Although many of the interns featured in the movie were smarter, more tech savvy, more intelligent, and more equipped to succeed as an intern than Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters, it was those characters who actually succeeded more than all the others.  Vaughn and Wilson's characters possessed a certain set of skills that these other interns failed to fully develop in school.  My goal for this month's newsletter is to provide you with four specific questions that you must ask yourself if you desire to obtain the career and leadership success that these two characters in the featured film experienced as interns with Google.

 

Are You A Socially Competent Leader?
Leadership and Career Skill #1

The first leadership and career skill that enabled Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters to obtain great success in the movie was their ability to serve as social competent leaders.  In essence, although both characters had their share of communication mishaps, by the end of the movie, it was clear that these two characters were the most socially competent leaders of the group.  They were both most effective at communicating, negotiating, decreasing conflict, developing strong bonds, and achieving personal goals in various social interactions while maintaining positive relationships with others.

Lesson: Individuals searching for career and leadership success in the 21st Century must be socially competent leaders who know how to build quality relationships with others, attain social goals in specific social contexts, achieve desired outcomes and adaptability in different social settings, perform well socially in different cultural social settings, and maintain positive relationships with others in various social settings.

 
Do you have a Positive Attitude?
Leadership and Career Skill #2

The second leadership and career skill that enabled Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters to obtain great success in the movie was their optimistic attitude and strong desire to have fun on the job.  Both characters had to deal with several different challenges and extremely boring situations throughout the movie.  By the end of the movie, it was clear that these two characters were able to enjoy themselves more than others and overcome many of these unique challenges throughout the featured film because they maintained an optimistic attitude and had fun regardless of the negative situations that transpired in the movie.

Lesson: Individuals searching for career and leadership success in the 21st Century must have fun doing what they desire to do professionally and they must bring a positive attitude to their desired profession every day regardless of the situation.  Life has taught many well-known individuals of our past and present that your attitude or positive mindset can have a huge impact on your success in life.
   
  
Are You An Exceptional Team Player?
Leadership and Career Skill #3

The third leadership and career skill that enabled Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters to obtain great success in the movie was their ability to serve effectively as an exceptional team player.  Both characters had their share of flaws when it came to technology, by the end of the movie, it was clear that these two characters were able to overcome many of these flaws because they knew how to lead, serve, and work effectively with the members of their team.

Lesson: Individuals searching for career and leadership success in the 21st Century must be exceptional team players which consist of individuals who respect everyone, treat everyone well on the team, communicate and deal with conflict effectively, listen to all the different concerns from each of the members, are honest with one another, work with others to obtain a common purpose established by the group, inspire and motivate others in the group, and make sure that you win and lose as a group verses individually.

 
Are You Resilient?
Leadership and Career Skill #4

The fourth leadership and career skill that enabled Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson's characters to obtain great success in the movie was their resilience as leaders.  Both characters were fired from their previous jobs, portrayed as irrelevant workers in the internship program at Google, and complete failures at certain moments in the film.  By the end of the movie, it was clear that these two characters were able to succeed because they had a strong ability to cope, adapt, endure, persevere, and overcome challenges, obstacles, failures, rejection, uncertainties, and fears that stood between them and their desired goal.

Lesson: Individuals searching for career and leadership success in the 21st Century must have a strong ability to cope with adversity and adapt to challenges or changing circumstances because it's a requirement of obtaining personal, career, and leadership success.  Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Oprah Winfrey are great examples of this leadership concept.   

Leading with Love - The Key to Diversity & Social Justice

Leading with Love - The Key to Diversity & Social Justice 

 

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One of the most popular leadership concepts that I have been speaking to audiences about all across the country is the power of leading with love.  Although I have placed more of an emphasis on this concept in the past six months than in years past, the actual concept of leading with love developed in me a few years ago when I had the opportunity to watch a leadership video on this concept created by leadership guru, Ken Blanchard.  In the video, Mr. Blanchard describes that leading with love is treating people right, valuing the work of everyone connected to the business or organization, and leading with a heart of service. I like to use these concepts as I define the age old question - what is a leader.  I believe a leader is someone who leads with a heart to make others around them better, make a difference in the lives of others, and make the world a better place.  After learning about this concept of leadership, I have been interested in learning more about what it means to lead with love and how this concept of leadership could help me and others serve more effectively as leaders in the 21st Century.

After a couple of years of research and practice, I have developed a greater understanding of this leadership concept and discovered why many leadership experts who teach on this subject matter consider it one of the most powerful leadership concepts for leaders to possess in the 21st Century.  I was also able to discover that one of the keys to helping people become more effective at leading and working with diverse groups of people more effectively in the 21st Century is being able to lead with love.  Leading with love requires emerging and seasoned leaders to forgive others, treat everyone with respect, be patient, show compassion, make sacrifices, respect and embrace the differences of others, and have a heart that desires the best for everyone regardless of who they are.  And ultimately, when a person leads with these types of characteristics, it automatically alleviates some of the negativity that causes people to fail at becoming men and women who are effective at working and leading different types of people.

Once I was able develop this understanding of love, I was able to grasp the concept intellectually, but was not able to fully see the power of this leadership concept manifest in the lives of emerging and seasoned leaders.  It was not until I built upon the knowledge of Kenneth Blanchard and discovered two more key things about the power of leading with love.  The first key thing I discovered is that leading with love is not based on feelings; it's a choice that you have to make.  In essence, as a leader, you can lead with love if only you forgive, be patient with others, make sacrifices, and want the best for others regardless of how you feel on the inside.  Unfortunately, because of this misconception many people fail to see the power of leading with love in their lives because they assume it's a feeling rather a choice.

The second key thing I discovered about this leadership concept is that the TRUE POWER of leading with love is most powerful when a leader chooses to lead with love although they may not feel like doing it at the time.  In essence, the power of leading with love is not in the feeling, it's in the choice to  lead with love when you really do not feel like forgiving others, being patient, making sacrifices, or treating people right when they have done something negative to you.  A great example of this concept is the civil rights movement led by Dr. King and many others.  I believe this is a great example because the men and women of this movement could have easily retaliated negatively for some of the things that were done to them, but their choice to march in non-violence regardless of their feelings about the oppression they were experiencing was one of the keys to success during this time.

Like Dr. King and many others great leaders from our past, if we choose to be more intentional about leading with love, we will not only evolve into more effective leaders in the 21st Century, but be able to make an incredible impact in areas that revolve around social justice, fairness, and equality!

ARE YOU READY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY JOB MARKET?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY JOB MARKET? .

  

Over the next few weeks, seniors everywhere will be graduating from college and entering the workforce.  Shockingly, although a bachelor's degree guaranteed you a nice paying job several years ago, today, according to a 2012 article reported by the Associated Press, approximately 1.5 million or 53.6% of bachelor's degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed.  In essence, more than 50% of recent graduates who entered the workforce last year are still searching for a job or working in a professional industry they never imagined they would be working in.

            Even though these reports can be daunting, there are still great opportunities available for many college graduates.  In order to obtain these opportunities, college graduates must understand the new job market in the 21st Century.  For example, according to the author of article mentioned above, in order for college graduates to succeed in the 21st Century job market, he suggested that college graduates obtain a bachelor's degree in college and develop specific skill sets which are transferable into the job market.  In Fall 2012, The National Association of College Employers revealed that approximately 80% of employers look for leadership experience on a potential job candidates resume before the interview.
Ultimately, what does this means for college graduates?  If you are going to thrive in the 21st Century, it is important to develop the right leadership skills for your desired professional area of expertise.  In addition, it is critical that our future graduates develop the transferable skills necessary to compete in the current job market.

My objective with this month's newsletter is to provide you with five specific leadership questions that every college graduates must ask themselves if they are going to have the competitive advantage in the 21st Century job market.

 

Do you have Exceptional Character?
There are many definitions used to define character as it relates to leadership.  Personally, I like to define character as it relates to leadership as becoming a leader that is not only ethical and morally sound in your actions, but able to meet the demands of the tasks and people in an excellent manner.  In essence, a leader who has character is someone who does the right thing and has the ability and skill to perform a required job in an excellent manner.

Essentially, if you can develop the skills and behaviors necessary to become this type of person in your area of expertise, it can provide you with the competitive advantage needed in the 21st Century Job market.


 
Do you have People Competence?
When I think about a leader who possesses people competence, I think about a person who knows how to effectively work, lead, and get the most out of a diverse group of people.  In essence, an individual who is effective at working, leading, and getting the most out of people with different cultural backgrounds, personalities, perspectives, ways of living, and leadership styles is someone that I consider has amazing people competence skills.

With the increased diversity of our workplaces, organizations, communities, nation, and world, this is probably one of the most valuable leadership skills that can enable a student to obtain the competitive advantage in the 21st Century Job market.
 
 
Do you have Exceptional People Skills?
One of the most important lessons that every college graduate must be aware of in the 21st Century Job market is, obtaining your dream job is not just about going to a career fair and giving an employer a resume.  It's about networking and connecting with others in your desired area of expertise, building a positive relationship with people who are in your desired area of expertise, and surrounding yourself with mentors and peer mentors that are there to help you obtain career leadership success in your desired area of expertise.

Essentially, in order to effectively network, connect, and build these positive relationships in your life, you must develop amazing people skills.  These skills will enable you to be fruitful in this aspect of your life.

 
Do you have Self-Awareness?
I talk about self-awareness a lot as it relates to leadership and others areas of our lives because knowing who you are is one of the keys to obtaining personal, relationship, career, and leadership success.  The primary reason this concept is so important is because when a person discovers their  strengths, passion, love, emotional intelligence, unique personality, and special things about self, it helps them make the right decisions, choose the right professional area of expertise, and position themselves for great personal, career, and leadership success.

In the 21st Century, it is important to be adaptable to different working environments.  It is critical that an individual knows what professional area of expertise is great fit for them as well.

 
Do you have a Heart of Service?
When I think about a leader who has a heart of service, I think about a person who has a desire to help others, make others around them better, and make a difference in their organization, community, nation, and world.  In the 21st Century job market, it is important for individuals to become someone who has a desire to help others, to learn how to make others around you better and to enhance every organization you are a part.

The reason this leadership behavior is so important is because people who are effective at making others around them better and enhancing the organizations they are part of are the ones that ultimately obtain success and become the great leaders within our culture and society.

            As you might imagine, there are definitely more leadership questions that we can ask ourselves if we desire to have the competitive advantage in the 21st Century job market.  But, if we can develop and perfect the leadership skills listed in this month's newsletter, I believe that we will see the success that accompanies these different leadership questions listed above.

5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM 5 AMAZING WOMAN

5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM 5 AMAZING WOMAN .

  

Throughout my life, I have been an extremely lucky because I have been blessed by the inspiration, motivation, empowerment, encouragement, support, and love of several amazing women.  These positive experiences with my mother, grandmother, friends, colleagues, and female mentors have created an incredible appreciation for women.  It has shown me the amazing impact that a great woman can have on an individual's life.  In essence, I have discovered throughout the years that an amazing woman has the power to not only positively enhance the life of a child, husband, friend, organization, significant other, or family, but also greatly impact a community, nation, and world.  As we celebrate the amazing women in all our lives this month, I want to take the time to highlight five specific leadership skills that we can learn from five great women that have positively impacted our communities, nation, and world.

LESSON #1
Clara Barton teaches us about the POWER OF SERVICE!
When I think about great leaders, I think about men and women who have great hearts of service.  They help others, impact the lives of those around them, and make our world a better place.  Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross taught us about not only the power of service, but  the importance of helping and serving those in need.  As we celebrate the amazing women of our past and present, let's continue their leadership legacy of service to others.

LESSON #2
Oprah Winfrey teaches us about the POWER OF RESILIENCE!
When I think about great leaders, I think about men and women who have impacted several people's lives and have achieved huge levels of success because they possessed great resilience.  In essence, when challenges, negative circumstances, and obstacles manifested, these leaders did not allow the challenge to stop them.  Instead, these powerful leaders adapted, persevered, overcame, and refused to allow anyone or anything stand between them and destiny.  Oprah Winfrey, one of the most powerful women in the 21st Century overcame a variety of challenging situations and circumstances in her life and is an amazing example of resiliency.  As we celebrate the amazing woman of our past and present, let's continue their leadership legacy of resiliency.

LESSON #3
Mother Teresa teaches us about the POWER OF LOVE!
When I think about great leaders, I think about men and women who have made a tremendous impact in the world because they have allowed their love for people or a cause empower them to do some great things in the world.  Mother Teresa is an amazing woman who traveled the world helping the poor, serving the broken hearted, empowering people who were in distress, sacrificing her personal desires for others, and providing wisdom to many different world leaders.  She teaches us about the power of leading with love and is a great example of how we should conduct ourselves if we are going to lead with love in the 21st Century.  As we celebrate the amazing woman of our past and present, let's continue their leadership legacy of leading with love.

LESSON #4
Harriet Tubman teaches us about the POWER OF PURPOSE!
When I think about great leaders, I think about men and women who have impacted many people's lives, inspired millions of people with their story, and have done some incredible work in the world because they led with a purpose.  In essence, these amazing leaders had a positive passionate set of reasons "why" they were serving the people or cause they chose to serve as a leader.  Harriet Tubman, a remarkable woman who saved so many lives during slavery not only exemplifies the qualities of a great leader, but teaches us the power that comes to a leader who leads with purpose.  As we celebrate the amazing woman of our past and present, let's continue their leadership legacy of leading with purpose.

LESSON #5
Susan B. Anthony teaches us about the POWER OF COURAGE!
When I think about great leaders, I think about men and women who have great courage to act for the betterment of others regardless of the fear, challenges, obstacles, uncertainties, and negative situations.  Susan B. Anthony stood up for the rights and betterment of women.  She has taught us about the impact that can be made when we have the courage to stand for what is right as leaders.  In addition, she has taught us that great leaders must have courage to stand and fight for the betterment of the people they serve as leaders. As we celebrate the amazing woman of our past and present, let's continue their leadership legacy of courage.
There is definitely a lot of amazing woman who can be highlighted in this month's newsletter, but I decided to focus on these five amazing women because they are great examples of the powerful contributions that many women leaders have made to our community, nation, and world!    

The POWER of SELF-AWARENESS!

LEADING WITH LOVE!

JOSHUA FREDENBURG'S LEADERSHIP VIDEO BLOG

THE POWER OF VISION

Approximately ten years ago, I was at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California having an in-depth discussion with a speaking mentor of mine.  During our two hour discussion, he looked me in the eyes at said, "What are the three keys to success?"  My response was, "I am not sure.  I believe there are several key things that lead a person to success in life".  Then, he said, "That is true to a certain extent.  But, several years ago, the most successful people had a meeting about success, and by the end of the discussion, they all agreed that vision, passion, and execution are the three most important keys to success".  At the time I heard these words spoken, I was shocked to find out that these three attributes were considered the most important keys to personal success.  That conversation was a significant moment in my life and was something I thought about for several years.

Subsequently, after years of studying the keys to personal, career, and leadership success, I finally was able to gain a greater understanding into why my mentor believed that vision, passion, and execution are three key attributes every individual must possess and apply if they desire to obtain success at any level.  Ironically, during this powerful moment, I saw how much of an impact vision, passion, and execution can have on individual's life.  After more reflection, I realized that vision is the key that unlocks passion and execution in a person's life.  In essence, it's the vision (the ultimate goal discovered from within to make a positive impact) that ignites the passion and execution in an individual life.  So if you're going find your passion, develop a plan for success, and  obtain personal, career, or leadership success, you must have a VISION!

Steve Jobs, George Carver, Bill Gates, Clara Barton, and Walt Disney are several examples of passionate men and women who have obtained great personal, career, and leadership success because of vision.  The reason I believe each of these leaders are great examples of this concept; they all had the courage and ability to create and pursue a vision which impacted the world and enabled them to experience great success.  Steve Jobs, one of the greatest innovators of our time, was able to impact the world through his vision to create the best and most original products the world has ever seen.  George Carver, an amazing inventor, transformed the world through his innovative ideas turning peanuts, soybeans, and other plants into plastics, paint, fuel, and other useful products.  Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest men in the world, has impacted the lives of people everywhere through his vision to put a computer in every household and workplace in America.  Walt Disney, the creator of the Disneyland, has impacted families worldwide because he had a vision to create an amusement park of cartoon characters where parents and children could have fun together.  And lastly, Clara Barton, the creator of the American Red Cross, has impacted millions of people who have found themselves in disastrous situations.  She had a vision to help those in desperate need through voluntary actions of individual people.

The powerful thing about each of these passionate and amazing leaders is they exemplify the power of vision and reveal to us key attributes of an effective vision.  For example, when you look at each of the visions created, you will find that every vision was big, clear, concise, and captivating to those who shared the same interest as these different leaders.  In addition to these four specific attributes, you will also discover that that each of the visions has the same ultimate goal - make an impact in the world.  Essentially, when we create our visions for career, personal, and leadership success, our vision should be a big, clear, concise and as we learned have the ultimate goal to make an impact in our community, nation, or world.

Even though it can be challenging at times to really discover and develop your personal, career, or leadership vision, I challenge you to join me and many others leaders across the country in positioning ourselves for personal, career, and leadership in 2013 by developing an effective vision that will inspire us to reach out fullest potential and empower us to make our community, nation, and world a better place!