The Dimension of Leadership in the Alive - Movie Review Example

The Dimension of Leadership in the Movie “Alive” Leadership has been a of interest for various groups for the longest time. Great leaders have been analyzed on the basis of their character and leadership styles. Many have gone to gain prominence in their respective fields and some have remained in the background while the group they have led are celebrated for the extraordinary skill or action they have exemplified. A good leader decides what is best for his group even if painful decisions have to be made. He is ready to sacrifice his own convenience for the good of the majority. He is not after his own personal glory but the welfare and triumph of the whole group. His mettle is tested when times get difficult and everyone looks up to him to lead them out of the dark. A good leader has initiative. He tries to be a good example to his followers and treads a path where no one dares to go. He is effective in empowering others with encouragement. He boosts his member’s confidence and self-esteem. He is a source of hope and inspiration to others. Leadership may be defined as a “process in which a leader attempts to influence his or her followers to establish and accomplish a goal or goals.” (from http://www.answers.com/leadership#top). It may be as simple as coming up with a group decision or as complex as establishing a group culture. Leadership is a continuous process wherein a leader tries to move from accomplishing one goal to another for the good of the whole group. This process has been exhibited for many years, not only by humans, but by lesser animals as well. In groups of animals, there is usually an identified leader of the pack whose behavior commands obedience from the whole group. There are different kinds of leadership styles that have been identified. An Autocratic leader expects followers to obey him without question. Consultative leadership, as the name implies, consults followers of their opinion on some decision-making concerns but ultimately determines the final decision himself. Democratic or participative leadership enjoins the group in decision-making. Laissez-faire leaders are content to just lay back and let the group take whatever action they deem fit. In the movie Alive, a team of South American rugby players underwent a horrible and traumatic experience of being marooned in the Andes mountains after their plane crashed on its way to an international competition. In the 70 days that they stayed there, they were exposed to the deaths of their close friends and relatives who did not survive the ordeal. Twenty-nine died in the mountains and a mere sixteen survived. Such life and death situation necessitated leadership in some circumstances when others have no choice but follow orders, as they are at a loss on what to do. It was amazing how the role of leadership was played by different members. The team captain, expected that he remain the leader, took responsibility in deciding the fate of his team by coming up with a system of rationing meager food supplies of wine and chocolates (1 capful of wine and 1 square of chocolate per person). He also planted hope in his member’s hearts when a helicopter came by, telling them they would soon be rescued. However, when he realized that the rescue team called off the rescue, he did not have the courage to face the group and lose face at announcing the bad news. He let someone else do it. In this sense, he did not uphold the qualities of a good leader. Other members shone in their own natural leadership styles as they took command of some other situations. The medical student cared for all the injured, and his word was law in terms of alleviating pain and illness. The religious one led the group in prayer, saying special intentions for each night. Time came when food was scarce, a meeting ensued as to deliberate on the idea of eating their dead friends’ flesh as meat in order to survive. Since they had different beliefs and value systems, they debated on the morality of the problem at hand. There was a conflict as to their moral principles vis a vis their need to survive. Some were agreeable to try it out and others were adamant in their stand to hold on to their “civility”. The true leader was the one who made the first move of the unspeakable action of cutting a dead person’s flesh with a sharp blade of glass and eating it in front of an ambivalent audience. He was courageous enough to do it even if his insides were churning and his emotions needed to be silenced with the decision to help others survive. The member who lost both his mother and sister in the tragedy had to be strong in willing his spirit not to give up, as he still had a father to come home to. He was able to inspire another member who likewise lost his wife in an avalanche while they were asleep. He sparked hope for the hopeless even if he only had a glimmer to spare. A series of unfortunate events is enough to break the human spirit. It was a blessing that the members of the team took turns in carrying the torch of hope. In doing so, they had their turn at being the leader of the moment. When one leader loses heart and displays a desperate plea to give up, another one gives full support and eggs him on, or if necessary, takes the reigns of leadership in order for the group to move on. Such noble group dynamics is worthy of emulation, as it was successful in ensuring the survival of the group. Indeed, the toughest times brings out the worst and the best of people. In this case, it also brings out the strength of the born leaders to surface and carry out what they were destined to do. The movie was successful in illustrating all the hardships undergone by all the members of the team. The audience is in awe of how the scenes are played out, marveling at how one catastrophe comes after another, and how the team members react to their pathetic situation that goes from bad to worst. The film makes the audience count their blessings and realize that material things do not matter when survival was the main concern and priority. At first, since the audience vicariously experiences the disasters for the first time, they may expect a more pained response from the team members themselves. However, it is to be realized and accepted that such unbelievable sequence of misfortune can render a person numb. This is exquisitely symbolized by the utter coldness of the setting. The emergence of leadership roles alleviates the numbing feelings of hopelessness, as these people with leader’s insights become a source of hope – a spark of comforting heat from a flickering flame which the nearly-hypothermic members desperately need. The leaders in the movie certainly depict the qualities of good leaders – decisiveness, self-sacrifice, initiative, courage, persistence, encouragement and inspiration. A highlight in the movie is the tackling of the issue of eating another man’s flesh to survive. This controversial issue of cannibalism certainly goes against the team members’ value system, yet the democratic discussion shows how the natural leaders enlighten all the members of the necessity of such an act. They respected the views of everyon and did not force the issue on those who did not agree to eat, even to the point of their death. The only thing they did was to encourage, but when it was not heeded, they merely accepted these members’ decision. When it was decided that some of the members should go on an expedition to seek help, there was a unanimous decision to send off the most able men, as the group pin their hopes that these men will deliver on their promise to be rescued. These men were considered leaders because they had the intelligence, the strength and the will to reach their goals. Among the three men, there still stood one who led the other two in terms of pushing the limits of their endurance – both physical and emotional. Faith in God played a big part in the movie. In desperate times when there seems to be no hope of survival, turning to one’s faith can provide the necessary push to enliven the faltering survival instinct. A good leader makes use of his own faith and tries to transfuse his members with it so all of them look to the same direction – heavenwards. Their endurance and faith in God paid off, as in the end, they were eventually rescued. It was a very touching scene when all members joyfully welcomed the rescue team, and at that moment, there was no leader prevailing – everyone was equally ecstatic, everyone felt important and triumphant. The leaders did not have to take a bow for taking care of the group. It was enough that they lived to tell the tale. However, in everyday situations, a tragic experience like that of the movie’s is not a prerequisite for good leadership to come to the fore. Simple, regular occasions see the makings of a leader in every group situation. It is the one with the “take-charge” attitude, who owns up to his own faults and feelings, and is accountable for all his decisions. He is the one whom trust is easy to give to, as people know they will be safe with him. The following activity on trust gives the participants a sense of leadership. It is taken from the book “Self-Science, The Emotional Intelligence Curriculum” by Karen Stone-McCown, Anabel L. Jensen, Joshua M. Freedman and Marsha C. Rideout.., p.44 Learning Activity Plan: Trust in Leadership Learning Objectives: To provide an opportunity for students to enhance trust in themselves To provide an opportunity to trust others To experience being a leader to someone/ a group who gives his/ their full trust in the leader To increase sensory awareness Discussion Questions: What is trust? Why is trust important? What does it take to increase trust? To decrease it? Activity: The Trust Walk Experience Procedure: Ask students to choose a partner, someone they would like to know better. Then blindfold one of each pair or ask the “blind” partners to close their eyes. Students lead their “blind” partners for a “Trust Walk”. Give these instructions: “You have ten minutes to lead your partner around the yard (or classroom, school, gym, grounds, etc.) You are your partner’s eyes, so establish a means of nonverbal communication (e.g. squeezing hands or lifting shoulders to indicate obstacles) to reinforce the words you use. Never leave your partner and make the walk as interesting as possible. At the end of ten minutes, switch roles and continue for the next ten minutes. Then return to the whole group.” Follow Up: Suggest that the partners discuss this experience, using the following processing questions as a “Trust Walk” guide. Reactions to the entire experience, noting high points, can be made in journals. Group discussion can follow: Discussion Questions: 1. How did you feel leading? 2. How did you feel following? 3. Which was easier? 4. Which was more fulfilling? 5. Were you scared? 6. When did you feel most secure? 7. How did it feel to have someone dependent on you? To depend on someone? 8. What did it feel like to be deprived of your sense of sight? To relate this activity to the movie Alive, the activity may be compared to the state of the followers and leaders in the tragic situation. The followers trust their leaders with their lives, and they blindly follow their commands. Being given such a responsibility, the leader, in turn, uses his “sight” to guide his followers out of the dark. He himself may not know what is in store for them, but because he has been entrusted with their lives, he vigilantly treads the path in search for their safety and security, notwithstanding his own. This is a good exercise in the simulation of leadership and follower roles. References Buchanan, L. (n.d.) In praise of selflessness. Retrieved on April 28, 2007 from http://www.inc.com/magazine/20070501/managing-leadership.html Forsyth, D.R. (n.d.) Group Dynamics Resource Page Leadership. Retrieved on April 28, 2007 from: http://www.answers.com/leadership#top Manz, C. (2002) The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. McCown, K.S., Freedman, J.M., Jensen, A.L., & Rideout, M.C. (1998) Self Science: The Emotional Intelligence Curriculum. San Mateo, California: Six Seconds Paramount & Touchstone Pictures, (1993) Alive. Read More