Darth Vader Of Leadership

Photo (above) source: Wye Dean Tourism

Or why you should take lessons in leading from the Dark Lord of the Sith

If you are wondering what is going on here, you have probably never seen any of the Star Wars films. And since that is not illegal (yet), you need to know that the aim of this article is to give you some insight into the skills and qualities of one of the best leaders in the world of fiction – Darth Vader.

While it’s difficult to see him as anything other than a fiend, he did have a good side. Read on to see why Vader was a leadership rock star and what we can learn from him.

Mentors

Vader had great training and qualifications relevant for his leadership role. To put it simply, he learnt from the best.

In the process of becoming Darth Vader, he had sought out a variety of influential and powerful mentors who themselves were respected leaders. He backed up his natural leadership qualities with an extensive base of knowledge and experience.

Performance management

“You may dispense with the pleasantries, commander. I am here to put you back on schedule.” – Darth Vader in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Although being usually perceived as the ultimate villain, it needs to be said that Vader was stern but fair. The main virtue he sought in the members of his team was the ability to contribute to the ongoing projects and to always keep a level of high-quality work.

Indeed, he did censure those who were not performing well, but he also praised and rewarded those who excelled.

In this sense, Lord Vader had a perfect grasp on team management and constantly monitored and evaluated the performance of those around him, taking the necessary measures to improve teamwork when necessary.

Vision

“Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as father and son!” – Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

One of the reasons why Vader was performing well (after all, within 20 years he built an enormous space station with the power to destroy a whole planet), was that he was extremely focused and knew his priorities. He also knew how to communicate his vision to others, and motivate them to join him.

Team focus

“Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them.” – Vader in Return of the Jedi

Vader understood that he could not work solo, but needed the support of a team. He constantly assessed the skills and abilities of his team members, intending to build the strongest and most powerful team possible.

Rest and recovery

No leader works 24/7 without a minute for themselves, not even Darth Vader. When he was sure that everything is under control, Vader usually retreated to his chambers where he relaxed, meditated, re-charged and took some time to clear his mind and give rest to his body.

Being a former Jedi Knight and a current Sith Lord (both of which were based on martial arts and the philosophy of Asian spirituality), Vader knew only too well that to be productive and efficient, he needed to restore his organism after a hard day at work. He took care of himself so he could produce the best results possible.

Concluding remarks

As you can see, Darth Vader is a perfect example of the successful leader with some distinctly “winning” qualities.

A great team manager, Vader knew how to establish mutual respect between those involved in the “organisation”. He was a great team manager and a hard worker. His tactics might have been a little “dodgy” but there is no doubt that his purpose was sound.

For all these reasons we count the Dark Lord of the Sith high in our list of leaders we can pair from – as long as these do not include building Death Stars or blowing up planets.

To share your views on Darth Vader’s leadership style with us, email us at editor@leaderonomics.com. We’ll love to hear from you! For more Hard Talk articles, click here. 

Reposted with permission on Leaderonomics.com.