Leadership Apollo 13 movie - Essay Example

Leadership Behavior in Apollo 13 Movie Apollo 13 is a movie that is based on a true story. The story behind this film reflects on the ill fated American space crew on their third mission to the moon, 40 years ago. The film does not entirely focus on every event that occurred during the ill-fated mission, however, it points out some of the key aspects from the real mission. This paper will not focus on the events that happened in the movie, but one of the characters. The paper will describe the leadership and personal traits of the character in relation to Andrew DuBrin’s chapters on leadership.

One of the key characters in the film is Jim Lovell; whose real name is real life is Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks depicts the qualities of a leader as depicted by DuBrin in his book “Leadership”. Jim Lovell portrays some of the most appropriate leadership character traits which deal with interpersonal aspects of a leader. According to DuBrin, Leadership has everything to do with motivation and change among other aspects (35). Other aspects that DuBrin classifies as part of a leader’s role are the administrative and planning aspects.

Apollo 13 has the appropriate example of how a leader should act when there are challenges, which are unexpected in an organization. Jim Lovell is portrayed as a charismatic leader, one who is quick in action and a fast thinker when there is a crisis. This character trait is evident in one of the scenes where Jim Lovell and other astronauts approach their long awaited destination. Before landing, the craft’s power system starts having a problem and the crew’s supply of oxygen also runs out.

This is the time Jim Lovell’s leadership skills are put to the test when the crew begins to panic. The crew members were aware that there was a problem and time was running out. From this scene, viewers get to see Jim Lovell as a democratic leader, as he favors no crew member when they start panicking and each member is allowed to contribute to decision making. As DuBrin indicates in his book, for a person to be considered an effective leader, he or she has to be aware of certain tactics of influencing people (263).

On page 263, DuBrin’s point is that when such a person has the ability to influence, he has the power as a leader. Jim Lovell is also depicted as a hands-on leader. DuBrin states that hands-on leadership is required in all areas, if the leader is to be classified as an effective leader (250). Lovell is directly involved in the lives of his crew members. This can be evidenced in the beginning of the film, where Lovell decides to replace one of the crew members, Ken Mattingly with another crew member, Jack Swigert.

Lovell learnt of Mattingly’s exposure to measles and with this information, he took immediate action. Lastly, Lovell is a leader who leads his crew by example. When he tells all the crew members to be calm, due to the craft’s problems, they also note that he is calm. His actions and words are consistent, which means that he leads by example. Leading by example, is interpreted by employees in any organization, that the leader is working hard and expects everyone else to do the same (DuBrin 245).

In conclusion, it is evident that the movie brings out the real characteristics of a leader who can face challenges such as those that Jim Lovell depicts.Work CitedDuBrin, Andrew J. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2012. Print.