Holiday Movie Inspiration (Part 2)
Last week I shared leadership lessons from Elf and Christmas Vacation. This week, I’ll continue with two more favorites in the Lambatos' household: Home Alone and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. While very different stories, they share a common theme: growth often shows up in unexpected ways.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas
Home Alone
No matter how many plot holes you want to poke in it, Home Alone is still a classic and delivers laughter and entertainment throughout.
1. Eliminate Distractions
The McCallister family’s chaos begins well before their flight to Paris. House guests, last-minute packing, power outages, and too many moving parts create the perfect environment for something important to be missed (Kevin!).
As leaders, distractions can pull our focus away from what matters most. When we simplify and prioritize, we’re better prepared to handle the unexpected. What distractions might be keeping you from seeing clearly right now?
2. Innovation Can Come from Anywhere
Kevin turns everyday household items into creative solutions. While exaggerated, the lesson is real. Too often, organizations throw money at problems when what they really need is creativity.
When leaders empower teams to think differently and use what’s already available, innovation follows. Where might your team be closer to the solution than you realize?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This classic debuted more than fifty years ago, and its message still resonates with the lovable characters like Yukon Cornelius and Sam the Snowman.
1. Leadership Can Come from Anywhere
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that leadership always needs to look a certain way. Rudolph is dismissed and overlooked until circumstances change. Suddenly, the very thing that made him different becomes the reason he’s needed most.
Who on your team has untapped leadership potential? And what future challenges might require a different style of leadership than you’ve relied on before?
2. Sometimes You Have to Take a Risk
When Santa asks Rudolph to lead the sleigh, he jumps (pun intended) at the chance despite never having done it before. Opportunity rarely arrives when we feel fully ready.
Leadership requires the courage to step forward even when the path isn’t clear. Playing it safe may feel comfortable, but growth often lives on the other side of risk and there is no guarantee that opportunity will knock again.
Holiday movies remind us that leadership doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. It’s about fun, trust, creativity, courage, and believing in people before they believe in themselves.
As you close out the year, take a moment to reflect. Which of these lessons do you need to lean into right now? And how can you make your leadership a little better every day for the people who count on you?
Keep MIBE-ing!
Anthony Lambatos
Founder, MIBE Hospitality Leadership Development
Owner, Footers Catering
P.S. Make your leadership a little bit better! Join us at our MIBE Summit January 25th - 27th.
