Influence and Lead Like a Superhero in your Career

Superheroes have always captured our imagination with their exciting stories of power intrigue, and justice. There is much to learn from just watching superheroes, especially when we focus on their psychological attributes. These icons of greatness can mentor our thoughts and actions in the workspace and make us true leaders.

Captain America – Inspire and motivate others
Why did the Avengers follow Captain America? Because he is the ultimate team player and knows very well that a leader is only as strong as his team. This is the reason why he does not just push himself to be better, but also tries to inspire others around him to become better.

Just like Captain America leaders today, have to win people’s cooperation. If you want to be a good leader you need to create positive one-on-one relationships along with team relationships by being a great listener and connecting emotionally with people. Successful leaders encourage and inspire people to perform at their best. They are often effective not because of the title or position of power they have but because of the quality of the people they have become, because of their characters and their personalities.

Hawkman – problem-solving with a different perspective
With wings that attached to his back, Hawkman could fly above the city streets and get a birds-eye view of what was going on below. 

Like Hawkman what makes leaders most effective is the ability to see and understand the big picture. The most common characteristic of leadership, throughout the years, is that leaders have a vision. As a leader, it’s important to clearly communicate that to employees so they understand what needs to be done to succeed and it's much easier for them to contribute.

Wonder Woman - example of real commitment
When it comes to the trait of being hardworking Wonder Woman tops the chart. She was blessed by the Greek Gods to become as beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, as strong as Hercules, and as swift as Hermes. However, she chose to surrender her powers to stay on earth and save mankind. As Diana Prince, she worked hard to master the martial arts and the use of her many weapons. 

Most teams respect leaders that lead by example when it comes to working hard. If you expect your team to work hard and produce quality content, you’re going to have to show them how it’s done. The most successful teams will tell you that there is no greater motivation than seeing the boss down in the trenches working alongside everyone else to ensure a deadline is being met. By proving your commitment to the brand and your role, you will not only earn the respect of your team but will also instill that same hardworking energy among your staff. As a leader, it’s important to show your commitment not only to the work at hand but also to your promises.

Iron Man - Superheroes help people (succeed)
Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, grew from insensitive playboy millionaire to superhero who eliminated vicious criminals and aliens to protect people. This Superhero demonstrates that real leaders understand their role in helping others be more successful.

As a leader, it’s important for you to continuously develop and build your own technical and professional expertise, however, it’s even more important that you set aside time and budget to develop your employees. In order to manage the constantly changing business environment, you need to regularly take stock of the skills you have in your team and identify the most promising employees. These employees need to be trained and developed as they will become their company's next generation of great leaders.

In short, organizations are looking for superhero leaders that can create a sense of community within the workplace which will increase employee retention figures but also improve overall results. Leadership is a valuable skill, especially in the current economic climate.

If you have some superhero leadership skills that you feel are not being recognized at your current employer, we can assist. We have a team of dedicated consultants specializing in the Finance, IT, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Freight industries. They can connect you with Top Employers in South Africa while assisting you to map both long and short-term career objectives and advise you on what steps to take to reach your ultimate career goal. We would love to work with you. Apply now!