Leadership on the Big Screen: Stand by Me

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together as a team in support of the mission.

Gordie is able to lead the group throughout the entire journey by relying on the core competencies strategy. By using his internal strengths, he is able to perform his best in the most difficult situations. Not only does he devise the initial plan, but he also provides comfort and encouragement when members of the group show signs of fear. He becomes a confidant amongst his peers and helps them to formulate a resolution to their problems. He also defends his group when the gang of juvenile delinquents makes threats against the young boys. When Ace, the gang leader, teases the boys with a knife, Gordie reveals a hand gun. In disbelief, Ace continued to threaten and pressure the boys but Gordie defends his friends by shooting off the gun in the air.

Gordie’s use of strategic leadership provided the appropriate direction and inspiration needed for his group of friends to accomplish their mission which was to find the missing boy. However, his reasoning skills and ability to easily adapt to changes provoked the decision that no one should take the credit in finding the dead body. Instead he made the decision to report the body of the missing boy anonymously to the authorities. This humility sets Gordie apart from his peers and makes him a great leader.

Gordie is certainly not your typical hero. He initially appeared to be feeble and oppressed, even by his own parent’s perception. However, the audience witnesses his psychosomatic growth throughout the film. He becomes courageously determined and daringly heroic in order to save his friends and to respectfully protect the dignity of the missing boy.

References

DuBrin, A. J. (2013). Leadership; Research Findings, Practice, and Skills. Mason: South-

Western Cengage Learning.

Garykmcd. (2015). Stand by Me Plot Summary. Retrieved April 25, 2015, from IMDb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/plotsummary