Do you think we can learn some Leadership Lessons from Walt Disney

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:06:43 -0400

Leaders and lessons can come from any industry! These are worth noting. What do you think?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-leadership-lessons-from-walt-disney-kevin-delaney?trk=hp-feed-article-title

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 9 at 2015 4:15 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:15:46 -0400

Very common sense principles and very valid today as well!

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 4:17 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:17:48 -0400

Yes, Disney did a lot of innovative things that are now common in the things that Disney got involved in. But a lot of those ideas go back to leader books older than Disney, but good leaders can learn from anyone, and improve upon their ideas.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 9 at 2015 4:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:20:33 -0400

Often in training meetings I would go with the NCO's suggestion when they had a better idea or the outcome would be no different. I wanted some buy in with their suggestions and show appreciation for their thoughts.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 9 at 2015 5:20 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:20:48 -0400

We all have a "short list" of leaders that we'd follow to hell, and back. We knew their vision, embraced it, and executed it. I suppose Disney would on many's "short list."

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 9 at 2015 5:44 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:44:05 -0400

Stepping away from the Man, and looking at the Organization, let me ask this simple question:

"Which is more efficient from a logistical standpoint, Disney World or the US Military?"

It's estimated that the park(s) service 17M/year (45k/day). For anyone who has every been there, it's hard to say that it is not an exceedingly well ran operation, with the number of support staff it has. Add in all the secondary items like hotels, buses, food service "off park" but "on site" and I'm betting our Logistics Commands would offer Direct Commission any of the VPs running running key infrastructure there just for their subject matter expertise, if they were allowed.

Response by Col Joel Anderson made Jun 9 at 2015 6:28 PM

Col Joel Anderson — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 18:28:21 -0400

Great article.

Some of my personal thoughts on the subject:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/some-thoughts-leadership-joel-anderson?trk=pulse_spock-articles

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jun 9 at 2015 7:41 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 19:41:56 -0400

I think there are a dozen or more books out about Walt's management style.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 8:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 20:52:57 -0400

Yes! As far as Walt Disney himself, he was a great father and a kid at heart. I think that anyone who would adopt a child has to have a heart of gold. He was a person of perseverance and a great leader. His entire family was selfless.

As far as lessons for leaders from Walt Disney, if you keep your perspective that Service Members love what they do, and you are a kid at heart, they may love to come to work.

If leaders teach their subordinates that they could accomplish anything if they put their mind to it, our future of leaders will produce a mass of successful members.

Lastly, leaders know the value of family first. Your network of support's strength comes from the place you lay your head.

Walt Disney's lesson's for leaders
Love what you do and have fun
Believe in yourself and your subordinates, sky is the limit
Family first

JW

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 9:36 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 21:36:44 -0400

If the results are positive, we can learn something worthwhile from every person. Every man is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.