Batman Leadership Lessons

Are there any Batman leadership lessons? What can be learned from the infamous caped crusader?

One day between Christmas and New Year me and five (male) friends watched all three Christopher Nolan Batman films (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises) back to back. We talked and prayed after each film, discussing what it means to be a man, and what it means to be a leader. Here’s some of the wisdom we gleaned:

1. We may consider our identity to be one thing, but most people will judge us based on the actions they see us doing. “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” How do people view you?
2. It is all too easy for people to start out right with great intentions and purity of heart, but to somehow become corrupted along the way. “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to become the villain.” How do we remain pure?
3. A triumvirate of three people agreeing to work together can be incredibly effective. “A chord of three strands is not easily broken.” Who are your two brothers (or sisters) you are working alongside to change the world?
4. Standing firm for something, and achieving something important often requires sacrifices to be made. What are we prepared to sacrifice in pursuit of our calling?
5. Throughout life we will lose many things (relationships, career, eventually our own health). How we cope with those losses is a profound part of whether we make a success of life. How do we cope with losing things that are dear to us?
6. Wanting to make our father’s proud of us can be a powerful motivator for men. Is our Father in heaven proud of who we are?

All this, and yet there was still so much more!

What lessons have you learned from Batman, or maybe from another film character?

Mark Williamson works as a director of One Rock. He’s an experienced leadership trainer, author of biographies on John Wesley and William Wilberforce, and is also passionate about praying for London. He enjoys good films, good food, and going for long walks with his wife Joanna. You can follow him on Twitter @markonerock.