Leadership lessons from 12 O'clock High
12 O’clock High - Lessons in Leadership
By contrasting the leadership styles of General Frank Savage and Colonel Davenport, the film
12 O’clock High explores the importance of leadership and defining factors in its effectiveness.
The movie is set on a US Air Force base in England during WWII, where a squadron of pilots is trying to execute highly risky daylight bombing raids in Nazi-occupied Europe. Colonel
Davenport being relieved of his post due to him becoming too close to his troops, he wanted to be one of the boys and this hindered his ability to lead.
Leadership, as we discussed in class several times, involves the ability to direct by understanding people’s emotions and motivations. As exhibited by characters like General
Savage and Captain Trewsbury, a leader should also be aware that they’re not in a popularity contest since tough decisions surely lie ahead.
The movie emphasizes this point, with Savage making tough choices that put him at odds with his troops. For example, from the get-go Savage sets a high standard of performance, he wastes no time in making clear what is acceptable and what’s not. Before even entering the airbase he reprimands a guard for not checking his ID and within hours of being in charge he decides to close the bar until further notice. He also leads by example and modeling the behavior he expects from others. In a managerial context this translates to employees working harder when they notice leaders working mindfully and passionately.
Another leadership tactic the movie displays is nudging versus pushing. General Savage is a demanding leader but by no means does he micro-manage. He gives meaningful direction to his troops and trusts they’ll be heedful in accomplishing the task at hand. In a business context
I would imagine General Savage as the kind of manager that sets clear but not too-specific goals for the team, offers feedback and sets and expectation for results, not activity i.e. working late doesn’t
By contrasting the leadership styles of General Frank Savage and Colonel Davenport, the film
12 O’clock High explores the importance of leadership and defining factors in its effectiveness.
The movie is set on a US Air Force base in England during WWII, where a squadron of pilots is trying to execute highly risky daylight bombing raids in Nazi-occupied Europe. Colonel
Davenport being relieved of his post due to him becoming too close to his troops, he wanted to be one of the boys and this hindered his ability to lead.
Leadership, as we discussed in class several times, involves the ability to direct by understanding people’s emotions and motivations. As exhibited by characters like General
Savage and Captain Trewsbury, a leader should also be aware that they’re not in a popularity contest since tough decisions surely lie ahead.
The movie emphasizes this point, with Savage making tough choices that put him at odds with his troops. For example, from the get-go Savage sets a high standard of performance, he wastes no time in making clear what is acceptable and what’s not. Before even entering the airbase he reprimands a guard for not checking his ID and within hours of being in charge he decides to close the bar until further notice. He also leads by example and modeling the behavior he expects from others. In a managerial context this translates to employees working harder when they notice leaders working mindfully and passionately.
Another leadership tactic the movie displays is nudging versus pushing. General Savage is a demanding leader but by no means does he micro-manage. He gives meaningful direction to his troops and trusts they’ll be heedful in accomplishing the task at hand. In a business context
I would imagine General Savage as the kind of manager that sets clear but not too-specific goals for the team, offers feedback and sets and expectation for results, not activity i.e. working late doesn’t