The Wolf of Your Street

My My!  This movie is intense. Despite the constant “language” and the too-long length, I loved the movie. The passion. The spontaneity. The thrill of success. The confidence. The charisma.

I took many take away lessons from the Wolf of Wall Street. As a leader, one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of my job is motivating the team.  Hey! It’s tough out there. Keeping a team focused and motivated is a talent. I suggest – be the wolf for your street.

Put Together a Loyal Team

Loyalty is an anchor of motivation. Your team doesn’t need to be made up of geniuses. But, a team of loyal contributors is the key.  There are three detrimental scenarios that can tear up any team.  A loyal team can reduce the risk of these three important issues:

• Unfocused, unproductive behavior caused by backstabbed and personal agendas;
• Making poor decisions because you’re surrounded by yes-men who don’t give you accurate feedback;
• Discontent due to a lack of communication

Building a group of people who play their roles, roles they are happy with and motivated to excel in, is the key to a successful product. Compile a team of people you trust to go those extra few miles for you. Make sure to keep your team happy. Work is not work without play. Reward success.

As a leader, talk with your team. Reinforce the goals of the team and the need for all team members to be involved in the success of the team. And, above all else, demand and reward honest feedback. You and your team will never improve if the truth is not told about your challenges. Turn yes-men to wolf men.

Simplify

Do you find that you own team processes are somewhat cumbersome and complex? Do your processes cause rework?  Simplify my friend, simplify. One of the reasons the wolf was able to transform young, uneducated people into charismatic stock brokers was because he was able to transfer knowledge and motivate by giving simple instructions in a way that all employees could easily understand.  Make it simple. Spell it out.

Diversify your team

Why are the two protagonist in the movie such a good team?  Easy, because they are very different. They are both good at different things – but together they are a great combination. As a leader, don’t be trapped in the phenomenon that I call, “team of selfies”.  Don’t strive to build a team of individuals who all mimic you, your styles, and your demeanor.  Build a team that complements each other not mimics each other.  If each team member is a mirror of the others, how will your team debate? How will you analyze? How will you challenge each other?  

Study history -- Don’t Live in It

 “I’m a student of history, Roland, and I’m a firm believer that he who doesn’t study the mistakes of the past is doomed to repeat them”. – Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street

Studying past events in your professional expertise and to explore what other teams did to succeed or fail is a valuable exercise. Explore, study, plan and proceed. Study the past but don’t dwell in it.  Study the great men/women who came before you and learn from their journeys. Don’t become them. Become beyond them.

Dress for success

Always dress the part. If you’re not confident in the part, at least look qualified for the part. In such a materialistic world, the sad truth is, you can’t sell yourself dressed like a slob.  It’s all about presentation. Your appearance reflects your reputation and work ethic. Flaunt it.

Failure may not be an option but it does breed motivation

I hate to fail, but I do so often. Why, because my team and I take the risk and try new things. Some succeed, some don’t.  Failure just might be the most powerful motivator there is.  Don’t take failure as a stop sign, but rather, as a smack to rethink your plan. Maybe the plan just needs a detour. Get mad!  Use the failure to motivate not hesitate.

Be the change you want to see  

Do organizations have personality?  No, the bricks and mortar of an organization do not have personality. But, I do believe the organization takes on the personality of its leaders.  So, be the change you want to see.  If you want to be told the truth – then tell the truth. If you want your division to be a standout – then be charismatic. If you loath mediocrity – don’t be mediocre. If you believe your team should work, really work, 8 hours a day – then work 8 hours a day. 

Don’t just talk about it, do it!  Nobody wants to hear about what you’re doing next year; they want to see what you’re doing now. Success isn’t measured in dollars or cents; it’s a mentality, one you should start striving for today in whatever it is that you’re doing, whether it be big or small.  Success is the main distinction between saying and doing. Set achievable goals for your team, ones that keep your brains, hands and legs busy, as opposed to your mouths.

Lead by example and set the standard. Ask yourself often: Why do I try so hard to fit in when I was born to stand out?

Be the wolf of your street

Opportunities aren’t always handed to you.  Go hunt them. Opportunity is reserved for the hungriest wolf.

Lead the pack! Be the wolf of your street!

Have Fun Storming the Castle!

If you have not watched The Princess Bride (1987), do so soon. 

The story has many hidden messages for the young and old alike. I would like to share with you my lessons learned from my “favorites” of this classic film.

Best one liner:  Be yourself

Funny, my favorite line in the movie is from the character who says the least. The gentle giant, Fezzik, tells us “People in masks are not to be trusted”. If your personality, your unique view of the world, isn’t expressed in your position, no one is going to fully believe you. Some may never trust you. The most important thing about your job is you. You must bring the “unique you” to the role. Don’t try to be or act like someone else. Don’t hide behind another’s ideas. Stand out with no mask on. 

Favorite dialogue: Keep ‘em guessing

My favorite conversation in the movie is when Inigo and the Man in Black are engaged in a mighty duel.

Man in Black (Roberts/Westley): “Why are you smiling?”

Inigo Montoya: “I know something you don’t know!”

Man in Black: “And what is that?”

Inigo: “I am not left-handed!”

The inspiration within this exchange lies at the center of successful business conversations.  Don’t give away the farm in the first sentence.  Listen, think, engage. 

Favorite acronym: R.O.U.S.

When Westley and Buttercup go storming into the Fire Swamp, they truly fear that they won’t make it out alive. Our jobs can seem just like a file swamp some days. Make difficult, challenging decisions without fear, and charge ahead on the strategic paths your leadership sets with gusto. Even if you doubt yourself, don’t give up.  Work through every challenge, put out every fire.  And remember, every organization has a few Rodents Of Unusual Size (ROUS).  And some more than others.  

Best theme -- It’s not what you say -- okay okay… you’ve heard this a million times—it’s how you say it.

It is not the words we use, but the emotion we evoke. Please put energy behind your work. Be passionate.  When in a healthy debate, state your facts and evidence based data with conviction.  Most important, be confident. The villains of the world sense your fear and pray on it. The 3 C’s of effective communication:  Confidence, conviction and charisma. Soon, all those around you will answer  “….as you wish!”

Best advice--Assemble a strong team

Westley needs Inigo and Fezzik to rescue him and revive him from his tortuous experiences. They need him to find the Six Fingered Man. They worked well synergistically because they complemented each other. Find people to be on your team who complement you. Where you have bad habits, find someone who fills in those gaps. If you are really weak in an area, work with someone who is extremely strong in it. A well-rounded, functional team will almost always win the day.

Best Word:

 I learned many valuable lessons from the movie, especially the fact that I do not use the word “inconceivable” in my conversations near enough.    

Sum it up

Fight for what you believe in, even if the odds are against you.  Storm the competition.