5 Leadership Lessons from Survivor
It’s one of my favourite weeks of the year – yep, you guessed it, Australian Survivor is back on my TV
Laugh all you like, I’m a huge fan.
And not least because it is a microcosm of human behaviour, relationships and dynamics.
Other than some sport and a bit of evening news, it’s the only show I actually watch on live TV.
We may only be two episodes into the current season (at the time of writing), and already there are so many leadership lessons to be had.
5 leadership lessons from Survivor
1. Self-awareness is critical
Along with understanding strengths, weaknesses, values, and behaviours, one of the core parts of being self-aware is understanding how others perceive you. The first contestant voted out this season didn’t realise that her tribe felt she was playing too big a game too soon – a tactical error that always ends in tears!
2. Leave your ego at the door
Yeah, this one can be tricky, especially for people who have always achieve their goals. This season has two tribes of twelve. The Titans, who all excel in their chosen field, and the Rebels, who, as the name suggests, live life according to their own set of rules and guidelines when it comes to control and authority.
3. Building alliances and relationships
The aim of Survivor is to Outwit, Outplay and Outlast. While you are voting out your fellow contestants, when it gets to the final few, those contestants vote for the winner. Those with the ability to build genuine relationships are those who are more likely to last to the end. In business, strong relationships mean earned trust, because you are more likely to feel safe, seen and secure.
Trust at work leads to loyalty, lower staff turnover, higher revenue and lower costs of doing business.
In Survivor, trust can mean winning $1 million. Unless you're in Australia and you only win $500,000. For surviving almost twice as many days. Doesn't really seem fair, but that's also life!
4. Strategic thinking
Like business, Survivor is a game of strategy. Players need to think many steps ahead, and anticipate the consequences of actions, decisions made by their competition and the ever-changing external environment (i.e. the producers mixing things up!).
5. Decision-making under pressure
Survivor constantly places contestants in high-pressure situations where quick decision-making is essential, and so, like business leaders, they need to make difficult choices with limited information, balancing short-term gains with long-term goals. Having the ability to make effective decisions under pressure, and repeatedly back yourself, can not be undervalued.
Are you also a fan of Survivor? Are you watching Australian Survivor this season? Who is your pick to win?
I'd love to know!