Preview

Leadership Essay Example on the Movie 12'Oclock High

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1714 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Leadership Essay Example on the Movie 12'Oclock High
Introduction

Set in Archbury Airfield, England, during World War II, "Twelve O'Clock High" is full of engaging individuals whose character development reveal insights into the different approaches to leadership and their resultant effectiveness. The movie centralizes on the American 918th Bomber Group, a flight crew suffering from low-moral, dismal performance and "hard luck" after several unsuccessful flight missions. However, their luck drastically changes under the leadership of a dedicated, relentless general bent on boosting the crew's morale and performance though self-actualization, motivation and pride.

Many characters in this report display exemplary leadership qualities, but also highlight poor elements of leadership whose contrast sheds light on what truly makes an effective leader. Keith Davenport is the compassionate general and comrade to the 918th flight crew, who, after several mission mishaps with high crew and aircraft losses, is replaced by General Frank Savage. Savage is a disciplined hard-ass who whips the flight crew into shape by introducing discipline, direction and structure within the 918 flight crew. Through it all, Major General Pritchard, the ‘higher-up' in charge of delegating authority, reveals snapshots of leadership that his role plays towards the eventual success of the 918 flight crew.

This report will highlight and compare these character's roles and approaches to leading the 918th crew towards self-actualization, success and excellence. Namely, this report will emphasize the four crucial elements of being a good leader that they display throughout the course of the movie: taking charge, maintaining strategic vision, communications and teamwork, and personal integrity. These components of leadership will be discussed in detail with supporting examples to reveal more insight into the crucial elements that make up a good leader.

Taking Charge An effective leader possesses the will, desire and the know-how of how

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Wholly and individually, the members of the 918th Bomber Group reflected the personality and leadership traits of its commanding officer, Colonel Davenport. This is evidenced by the despondent atmosphere…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    12 O Clock High Analysis

    • 1431 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Twelve O’clock High is a 1949 film about the 918th Bomber Group, known as the “hard luck” group, and their evolution from a demoralized group to a reliable and accomplished group. American bomber groups were flying bombing missions in daylight from England, in order to increase accuracy. With Brigadier General Frank Savage as the new leader of the 918th, the efficiency and effectiveness subsequently increases. As a replacement for Colonel Davenport, who over identified with the men, General Savage showed more detachment. His leadership style, exhibiting strictness and discipline, helps motivate the pilots and the crew to perform better. As the 918th Bomber Group’s morale problem changes, the number of casualties and lost planes decreased. This film Twelve O’clock High portrays many types of leadership styles, and illuminates their effect on bombing missions over Europe during the height of World War II.…

    • 1431 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Colonel Davenport was concerned about the group completing their assigned mission. However, he allowed each aircraft commander to act with a certain level of autonomy on missions. This was observed and corrected by General Savage remanded a crewmember that violated group integrity during a mission. General Savage was a commander that ran the group as much by the book as any commander could. To demonstrate his seriousness in following protocol, any violators would be transferred to the Leper Colony with Lieutenant Colonel Gately. The Leper Colony was a creation of General Savage for Lieutenant Colonel Gately to demonstrate the importance of wingmanship and proper command presence. Given that the group was undermanned and underequipped, General Savage’s leadership methods were more effective than that of Colonel Davenport’s. However, a common struggle that each commander faced was that of defining “maximum effort”. Peace time operations can have periods of high operations tempo. However, after some time operations often subside and units resume normal operations. In war time, it is important as a commander to find the proper balance between maximum effort and overexertion/overuse of your followers and…

    • 954 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Like all military officers, I was trained and groomed to be a leader from the time I raised my right hand and took the oath of office. The most important contribution to my success was the emphasis I placed on putting junior member’s needs before mine. I have a code that I live by and it has been very effective as a leader, “Take care of your people, and they will take care of…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In 1986 the New York Mets defeated the Boston red sox in the 7th game of the World Series. The media world exploded, stating that they were “destined to win” and that they were “a team of winners”. In reality that is not how it went. They captured the title with the help of one teammate. His leadership brought it home. Having leadership on a team also makes other teammates better; it pushes them to the next level and makes people want to play like them. Having a leader on your team, is having someone who is completely devoted to the team. If you didn’t have that one player who always does what is best for the team, you wouldn’t win. Teams with players that possess leadership skills typically have a better overall team. Team chemistry, confidence and win percentage all increase. If you want to be a successful sports team, having a player who demonstrates leadership is key.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Identify the top five leaders and the purpose of their leadership role in the film “Kelly’s Heroes”.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The purpose of this paper is to professionally analyze a leader in order to identify how their attributes and competencies impacted their organization and affected my own leadership philosophy. Master Sergeant Retired Roy Benavidez is a leader whose actions positively influenced the United States Army and greatly influenced my leadership philosophy. Benavidez influenced the United States Army by aligning his core attributes, character, presence, and intellect and his core competencies, leads, develops, and achieves with Army doctrine before it existed. Benavidez’s leadership style and personal sacrifices…

    • 1780 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    General Savage Leadership

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages

    When Savage takes over the 918th, the morale is low, but the men are fiercely loyal to Col. Davenport, from whom General Savage takes command. Because he has been flying missions with the men and utilizing a participative leadership style, Davenport sees firsthand how much is being asked of them, and sympathizes with their plight. He has seen the…

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Lt. Audie L. Murphy’s name stands as one of the most prominent in American military history. He was a figurehead of leadership and the epitome of the seven Army Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage). He was a model for every soldier to follow, one that overcame every odd that was ever against him and rose to conquer every challenge. In his personal memoir “To Hell and Back”, he expressed a very personal view of what it takes to embody these characteristics which would eventually encourage anyone who reads it. In the next few paragraphs I will expound on his leadership and analyze what it really takes to be a leader.…

    • 1577 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In society there are leaders for examples Presidents and Prime Ministers. These leaders need to have certain characteristics, which include respect, maintaining order, and to protect the people. When these leaders start to ignore their responsibilities the society starts to get uncontrollable and mistakes will happen. For an example when leaders ignore protection and safety their actions undermine the groups ability to function, also when leaders ignore respect their actions undermine the groups ability to function. All of this happens in the story written by William Golding Lord of the Flies. All in all when leaders ignore their responsibilities their actions undermine the groups ability to function.…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Leadership is a very powerful trait that many wish to possess, but only few have the ability to appropriately carry out the task. It is a trait that is not only God-given, but also learned throughout life as we are given many leaders to observe as we journey throughout childhood and into adulthood. With my service in the military approaching 28 years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve under some very talented leaders within my varied career in the Air National Guard. I’ve also been given many opportunities to travel to a variety of places and countries that most people that I grew up with in Mississippi only dream of visiting. Since joining the Air National Guard in 1989, it has been a rewarding career both as an enlisted…

    • 141 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Traditionally, analysis on roles for effective leadership surround corporate or military settings with clearly defined problems, discernable issues, and areas where hypothesis can be made, models formed, predictions tested, and outcomes verified. Analyzing a film like Seabiscuit for the roles of leadership present many interesting questions about leadership and what it means to be a leader. The film Seabiscuit chronicles the lives of individuals as they become intertwined to produce an outcome, training a horse to race. At what point do individuals stop seeing themselves, in their daily lives, as individuals and begin seeing themselves as members of groups having to take on leadership and followership roles? I contend that all of the main characters in the movie are active learners, which are foundations to great leadership, but Charles Howard is the primary protagonist of the film. His leadership is borderless between business and personal experiences, constantly driving the group's success.…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ww1 Leadership Analysis

    • 3577 Words
    • 15 Pages

    I have not chosen this subject lightly. To me, leadership is the key to success in military operations, in peace and in war, as it has always been through the centuries. Yet it is a subject that doesn't get the attention it deserves today. My purpose with this letter is to stimulate some thoughts, and to put leadership in the forefront of your minds, where it belongs. I want you to read carefully and seriously what I have to say.…

    • 3577 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The topic of this leadership case study is Ernest Shackleton. This paper will identify the development of Shackleton's leadership skills, provide examples and reflections of his abilities, and relate how he played an essential role in one of history's greatest survival stories. This study of Shackleton's leadership is set loosely within the framework of the five practices of exemplary leadership set forth in The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, and will focus on the benefits produced by his management of team morale and unity (13).…

    • 4839 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The movie The Wizard of Oz based on the story by L. Frank Baum has been used by many as a lesson in leadership. There are several emerging leaders in the story from Dorothy up to the Wizard of Oz himself each with their own leadership and motivational style. Let’s examine this classic film as it relates to 2 popular theories: the Path-Goal Theory and the Expectancy Theory of Motivation.…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays