How ‘Inside Out 2’ Can Improve Your Leadership Skills
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 recently became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, busting box office records with its heartfelt tale of the main character, Riley, dealing with new issues and emotions at 13 years old.
But, the movie is more than a tear-jerker, according to Babson College Professor of Management Wendy Murphy. The animated film offers insights that illustrate how understanding and managing emotions can significantly enhance leadership capabilities. Here’s how Inside Out 2 can teach you to be a better leader.
Visualizing Emotions
The original Inside Out introduced viewers to the inner workings of a young girl’s mind, where emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust were personified as characters. Murphy—who co-authored the article, “Emotional Intelligence is the Secret to Leadership in Times of Crisis,” with fellow Babson Professor Scott Taylor—said those visualizations make the abstract concept of emotions more tangible and understandable.
“What I love about the movie is it gives people language to identify their emotions,” Murphy said. “For leaders, accurately identifying and recognizing emotions in the moment is crucial.”
The Four Quadrants of Emotional Intelligence
Murphy, also the associate dean of the undergraduate school, explains that the film aligns with a classic model of emotional intelligence, popularized by Daniel Goleman. This model includes four quadrants: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social skills.
“There’s a self and a social component, a cognitive what’s in your head and a behavioral what comes out,” she elaborates. “Inside Out 2 can help leaders better understand these dimensions by depicting how emotions influence both personal and social interactions.”
Enhancing Self-Awareness and Self-Management
In leadership, self-awareness involves recognizing one’s emotions and understanding how others perceive you. Self-management focuses on controlling and expressing these emotions appropriately.
Inside Out 2 highlights the importance of these skills by showing characters navigating complex emotional landscapes. Murphy emphasizes, “Self-awareness is about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how others see you, while self-management is about regulating your emotional responses.”
Building Empathy Through Social Awareness
Social awareness, or empathy, is about understanding and responding to the emotions of others. The film’s portrayal of different emotions interacting within the mind can teach leaders how to be more empathetic.
“Empathy involves imagining the emotions that others are feeling,” Murphy explains. By observing how characters in Inside Out 2 handle empathy, leaders can learn to better understand and connect with their teams.
The Power of Vulnerability
One of the most profound lessons from Inside Out is the power of vulnerability. Murphy highlights that showing vulnerability as a leader can foster trust and connection. “Being vulnerable helps people identify with you,” said Murphy.
Inside Out 2 further illustrates this by showing all the characters dealing with their vulnerabilities and emotions. Leaders can learn that sharing their feelings, within appropriate boundaries, can humanize them and build stronger relationships with their teams.
Leading by Example
Inside Out 2 also can teach leaders about the importance of modeling appropriate behavior. Murphy explains, “People watch how leaders act and take cues from their behavior.”
By demonstrating calm and effective responses to emotional challenges, leaders can provide a blueprint for their team to follow. This modeling can help leaders set a positive example for their teams, encouraging them to handle emotions constructively.
“Recognizing and managing emotions is crucial for leading through any challenge.”
Wendy Murphy, professor of management at Babson College
Embracing Modern Leadership Approaches
The pandemic also has had a tremendous impact on leadership by emphasizing the growing importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership, Murphy said.
“People are more open to these conversations now,” Murphy said. Inside Out 2 can reinforce this shift by showing how understanding and managing emotions are essential skills for modern leaders.
The Role of Transparency
Transparency is key to reducing anxiety and stress within organizations. Murphy underscores that “sharing information helps people feel comfortable and understand where the organization is heading.” Inside Out 2 can depict the benefits of transparency, showing how open communication about emotions can build trust and cohesion within a team.
As Inside Out 2 explores the intricacies of human emotions further, it offers a unique opportunity for leaders to learn valuable lessons in emotional intelligence. By understanding and managing emotions effectively, leaders can navigate the complexities of human behavior, foster empathy, and build stronger, more cohesive teams.
“Recognizing and managing emotions is critical for leading through any challenge,” Murphy said.
Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership
