Leadership Lessons from Netflix, “The Crown”

I know I’m late to the series but I’m glad I got there. I am midway through season two so I know I have a lot more ahead. I also know it’s fictional (the royal family makes a point of reminding us of that from time to time) so this is not about them but the acting and the script.

1. The first duty of a leader is to inspire. This wonderful episode about a noble peer who speaks up after a ghastly speech that the Queen that demonstrates how out of touch she is reminds us that the first obligation of leadership is to tap into the qualities within a person to inspire them, to show care for them and to connect deeply. When you manage, you think about output. You’re looking at your staff as though they are tools or machines that need to get cranked up. When you lead, you tap into that quality within someone that encourages them and loves them sufficiently to light the spark within them.

2. Leaders are different. Because they have a responsibility to something greater than the immediate or their own needs, they have to examine and make decisions based upon a greater perspective. Obviously, the Queen doesn’t always do that on the show. Yet there are many times where she does. Often, that leads to the next lesson

3. Leaders are often isolated by systems and need to find ways to connect. Good information doesn’t always get to…