10 Leadership Lessons in the Wizard of Oz

There are so many leadership lessons in the Wizard of Oz.  I thought I would share some.  Recently I went to an end of the year competition with my riding club and one of the events is the fancy dress competition.  I went with a Wizard of Oz theme.  It is usually heavily contested and this year I went dressed as Dorothy and my horse was the Cowardly Lion.   Which is why I began thinking about the deep morals and life lessons in the story.

Vision

Every good leader needs a vision and a plan.  Simply put: a strategy.  The Yellow Brick Road is an easy to follow strategy so regardless of who your team is they can step on the path with you and know where you are going.

“It’s always best to start at the beginning. And all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

– Glinda the Good Witch of Oz

Courage

Courage requires those in a leadership role to step up when it seems too hard for others.  As leaders, most things that make it to your desk are too complex for others or have no clear answer.   Making brave decisions requires courage.  Courage is also required when you are the one that needs to bring conviction and enthusiasm when you are having a bad day.

“Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What have they got that I ain’t got? ” – Cowardly Lion

Courage doesn’t mean being frightened.  Courage is about being scared and showing up anyway.

Dorothy: Weren’t you frightened?

Wizard of Oz: Frightened? Child, you’re talking to a man who’s laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe… I was petrified.

Relationships Matter

When we are managing staff or trying to influence others, they will not seek out your advice because of how much you know, but, because of how much you care.  Show people you are genuinely interested in them and their success and they will show respect.  Relationships with those around you matter.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Experience

Experience counts.  Wisdom often comes from our greatest mistakes not from our greatest successes.  So don’t discount those around you who have failed. They are often the greatest teachers.  Wisdom and experience can be your own, but in leadership, hire people smarter than you and be brave enough to say “I don’t know”.

“A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Uncertainty and Change

The tornado could represent several major disruptions.  It is the winds of change and things happen outside of our control.  2020 has been a perfect illustration of chaos and significant upheaval.  How many of us have felt that discomfort, had to pivot, and had to find new ways to operate outside our comfort zone.  We need to learn to embrace change, challenges and uncertainty.  They will be there regardless and we need to view them as opportunities.

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” – Dorothy.

Communication

Clear communication is critical because if we explain our vision in a way that others can engage with we have no one on our path.  Communication is critical but it also requires active listening.  To persuade others, you need to hear them first.

Dorothy: How can you talk, if you haven’t got a brain?

The Scarecrow: I don’t know. But, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?

Heart Led

The Tin Man shows us how to have a heart and have compassion.  Leaders need to have a heart and be emotionally engaged with their staff, customers and their organisation.  If you can learn to express how you feel authentically, it shows you care.  It will attract and motivate others who want to work for you and want to care too.  No one wants to work for a cold heartless boss.

“I shall take the heart. For brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world”. – Tin Man

“You people with hearts, have something to guide you, and need never do wrong; but I have no heart, and so I must be very careful”. – Tin Man

We are in this together

Team Diversity

A lion, a tin man, a scarecrow and a dog? All had their strengths and weakness. It is valuing all team members for what they can offer at different times.

“It’s not where you go, its who you meet along the way” – Wizard of Oz

Power and Leadership

There is a difference between power and leadership.  We have all come across people in power who do not have leadership skills.  Where those skills lack they often resort to power to get others to do what they want.  When you pull back the curtain on them they are scared and confused.

“I am Oz, the Great and Terrible,” said the little man, in a trembling voice, “but don’t strike me—please don’t!—and I’ll do anything you want me to.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Self Care

As leaders, we need to value ourselves in the journey and take time to look after our selves as well.  Often we have the answers but get burned out and exhausted.  Value yourself and your experience and you will find your own ruby slippers to guide you home.

“You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” – Glinda the Good Witch

“There is no place like home”

You as a leader also need to do what makes you happy and feeds your soul.  Sometimes that is right in front of you and don’t forget to value your family and your personal time and space.

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it, to begin with! Is that right? – Dorothy.

There are so many life and leadership lessons in the Wizard of Oz.   I found so many that I found it hard to narrow it to 10. The one lesson I have learned in 2020 is self-care.  I need to remind myself, “There is no place like home” and the ruby red shoes will always have pride of place on my feet.