A few months ago, one of my all-time favorite cable shows ended. You may have heard of it (insert sarcasm emoji), Game of Thrones. It was a wild ride of sex, violence, nightwalkers, dragons, and a whole slew of possible leaders for the ever-idealized Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. When the show ended, thousands of loyal fans complained bitterly about how the show ended. Many of them signed petitions and utilized social media to vent their frustrations.
What did all of these irate fans expect? A perfect ending, a perfect leader, or really just the leader that each of us wanted to believe belonged on that Iron Throne? I understand their frustration. The ending seemed rushed and a bit contrived for my taste, yet I still feel grateful for all of the enjoyment that I got from the numerous seasons of really good entertainment. I also understand their frustration in that aren’t so many of us looking for a perfect hero or a flawless leader?
The show offered up enticing possibilities of strong women and emotionally aware men as possible offerings for the Iron Throne. I was thrilled to see women play such powerful characters with strong ideas and even some fantastic fighting skills to boot. Some of the male characters were also strong fighters but vulnerable, loving, and kind. The characters were multi-dimensional and thus intriguing and exciting to watch. Who wouldn’t want a leader who seems perfect both emotionally and physically?
Looking for Leaders in All The Wrong Places
In today’s chaotic political climate and tenuous corporate climate, it’s hard to find leaders who are anything close to ideal. We see lying, cheating, vitriol, and cruelty on a daily basis. It’s easy to feel frustrated and hopeless about who is leading our society. Of course we were enamored by the characters and story line of Game of Thrones. We are looking for a worthy hero. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone lead our country or the companies we work for who is courageous, honest, and emotionally intelligent? Life feels so much safer and more tenable when we have strong people leading us.
What would happen if we actually looked for imperfect, but kind leaders? What if we started to be those kind of leaders ourselves? #leadership #leaders #heroes #GameofThrones Click To TweetThe end of Game of Thrones was frustrating in that the Iron Throne “winner” seemed a bit boring! I won’t say more just in case you haven’t seen the show, but the winner wasn’t someone that most of us felt too excited about. We wanted the flashy hero or leader. Yet maybe we were all wrong and we were looking for a leader or hero in all the wrong places. Maybe we are missing out on some wonderful leaders because we are looking so hard for perfection, for beauty, and for aggressiveness or fighting skills.
What would happen if we actually looked for imperfect, but kind leaders? Or leaders who are quieter, more introspective, and good at asking questions and collaborating with others? What if we started to be those kind of leaders ourselves? What if we didn’t actually need an Iron Throne, but believed that each of us is a leader in every aspect of our lives and thus responsible for leading to the best of our own abilities? What if we were our own heroes and in becoming so, make the world a better place? What if the dragon at the end of Game of Thrones knew exactly what he was doing when he burned that Iron Throne down?
Love,
Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC