Leadership lessons from the great Mufasa
How Lion King teaches us the values of true leadership skills
Released 28 years ago by Walt Disney Pictures, the animated film Lion King tells the story of Simba, a lion cub who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands. When his paternal uncle Scar kills Mufasa to seize the throne, Simba is tricked into believing he was responsible for his father’s death and flees into exile along with the carefree outcasts Timon and Pumbaa. Growing up, Simba receives valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful king.
Mufasa, the king of the Pride Lands, shows great leadership skills throughout the movie. His values and philosophy are portraying all the necessary soft skills a great leader needs in order to manage people — in this case an entire kingdom — effectively. At Morphoses we help young students enhance these valuable soft skills, cultivating the next generation of… Mufasas!
Ready to identify the soft skills behind Mufasa’s words?
“I’m only brave when I have to be. Simba, being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.”
Mufasa shows signs of self-awareness and self-management because he knows when it is time for him to intervene. At the same time, he shows excellent decision-making skills, as he chooses when he needs to be brave.
“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”
It is clear that Mufasa respects all creatures, regardless of their power. His inclusive thinking allows him to successfully manage his kingdom.
“You must take your place… in the circle of life”.
Being responsible is a significant aspect of leadership. As a leader sets an example for others, they must take responsibility for their actions.
“Look at the stars, the great kings look down on us from those stars… And so will I.”
A leader finds ways to connect with their teams. Communication skills are essential in order to create a bond of trust and respect.
Let’s take company leaders for example. What if all CEOs were like Mufasa? Showing respect and inclusivity among employees is a must-have for success. When CEOs take responsibility for their actions and communicate effectively with their team, they create meaningful relationships and avoid conflicts. Also, taking hard decisions when needed is what a true leader must do. Finally, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and acting accordingly, in other words being self-aware and managing themselves, can lead to wiser decisions.
Through the fun and interactive activities offered at Morphoses, young children learn how to take initiatives and manage potential conflicts. They are also introduced to thinking tools and techniques, they engage in role-playing and they share ideas and narrate stories, in order to solve puzzles and mystery stories. In doing so, they enhance a series of soft skills that pave the way for them to become leaders, like Mufasa, themselves.
