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10 Golden Lessons to lead by from Disney’s CEO Robert Iger

  • Ashish
  • Aug 11, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: May 31

Leading a production company, whether big or small, comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. As you navigate the competitive world of filmmaking, drawing inspiration from successful leaders can offer invaluable insights. Robert Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney, has led one of the world’s most iconic entertainment companies with a blend of innovation, vision, and leadership that has made Disney a global powerhouse. Here are nine golden lessons from Iger that can guide you as you build your own production empire.


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1. Now more than ever, Innovate or die. There can be no innovation if you operate out of fear of the new.

2. Value Ability more than experience, and put people in roles that require more of them than they know they have in them.

3. Don't let ambition get ahead of opportunity : By fixating on a future job project, you become impatient with where you are. You don't tend enough to the responsibilities you do have, and so ambition can become counterproductive. It’s important to know how you find the balance - do the job you have well, be patient, look for opportunities to pitch in and expand and grow, and make yourself one of the people through attitude and energy and focus, whom your bosses feel they have to turn to when an opportunity arises.

4. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection : 
It’s a mindset, more than a specific set of rules. It’s not about perfectionism at all costs. It’s about creating an environment in which people refuse to accept mediocrity. It’s about pushing back against the urge to say that “good enough” is good enough.

5. Avoid getting into the business of manufacturing Trombone oil : You may become the greatest trombone oil manufacturer in the world, but in the end, the world only consumes a few quarts of trombone oil a year. (You get the point, right?)

6. When hiring, try to surround yourself with people who are Good, in addition to being good at what they do. Genuine decency is a rarer commodity in business than it should be. You should look for it in the people you hire and nurture it in the people who work for you.

7. Projecting your anxiety onto your team is counterproductive : It’s subtle, but there’s a difference between communicating that you share their stress (that you’re in it with them), and communicating that you need them to deliver in order to alleviate your stress.

8. You are the embodiment of your company : You can be the head of a seven-person organisation or a quarter million-person organisation, and the same truth holds : What people think of you is what they’ll think of your company.

9. People sometimes shy away from big swings because they build a case against trying something before they even step up to the plate. Long shots aren’t usually as long as they seem. With enough thoughtfulness and commitment, the boldest ideas can be executed.

10. To tell great stories, you need great Talent. Period.

Conclusion
These lessons from Robert Iger, are carefully sourced from his book, 'The Ride of a Lifetime' in which he narrates the story of his professional career before and during his time at the Walt Disney company and offers timeless wisdom for anyone in a creative leadership role, especially in the film industry. By embracing innovation, valuing talent, and leading with integrity, you can build a production company that not only thrives in the competitive landscape but also stands the test of time. As you embark on your journey, keep these lessons in mind.

 
 
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