Sivers/Vonnegut: Drama and Leadership

I read a great piece by blogger Derek Sivers, who recalled a Kurt Vonnegut lecture he attended. The talk focused on why people often need and seek out more drama in their lives. Vonnegut's premise is fascinating in that he links that need for drama with the familiar arc of stories we hear in all types of places. Sivers recreates some charts that Vonnegut used to make his point, including this one:

















Vonnegut contrasted a common story like this with what happens in real life, which has far fewer dramatic ups and downs.















His point is that people often actively try to make that line move up or down so as to mirror the heroic and uplifting stories they have been exposed to. Thus, we frequently create (often only in our minds) our own dramatic moments, with the intention of a fairy-tale ending.

When it comes to leadership, I think this can be true as well. Especially in regards to heroic leadership. The stories of leaders we grow up learning about often follow familiar themes:

Leader is born, greatness is evident early -> leader faces some hardship in life -> with guts and determination, the leader emerges stronger than before -> the leader has a pinnacle moment (typically a rousing speech) that inspires others -> leader achieves good for mankind and is regarded a hero.

These stories of leadership can be what limits some from even engaging in leadership. Some may go on to do great things because of the inspiration of these stories, but others may find to great of a disconnect with their own experiences. If I haven't had some unusual life experience, or I cannot give a stirring speech, then what can I offer?

If we pulled back the curtain on some of these stories, we might see things that are far more common. Great leaders often have family or friends that help build their self-confidence and position them for great moments. Thus, hardly anyone does it alone. Many leaders come from privileged backgrounds - or relatively mundane ones. The achievements of most effective leaders are due to the hard work we never see - not the breathtaking speeches we do. Lastly, leaders often find themselves in "moments of greatness" by sheer accident. The heroic pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson River certainly didn't plan for greatness!

I reflect back on Martin Luther King, Jr. and his story. It's a wonderful story that needs to be told over and over again. But the story of those who stood alongside him - who led from the background - are the stories we need to hear more of. Those are the heroes most of us can connect with.

Kudos to Derek Sivers for a thought-provoking piece!