Leadership Qualities from the "Man of Imagination" - Walt Disney

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to speak at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

While it was an exhilarating experience speaking to thousands of students in the beautiful Hyperion theatre, what was most interesting was how aligned the message was with “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

I shared 3 leadership qualities I believe would best help student leaders make an extraordinary impact in their schools, families, and communities.

All of them, traits embodied by the “Man of Imagination” himself, Walt Disney.

1. Great Leaders Possess VISION

Vision provides leaders with 3 things:

1. Direction

2. Clarity

3. Energy

Vision is the ability to:

•See lessons through hardship

•See opportunities where others see obstacles

•See the “Greatness Potential” in others before they see it in themselves

The key to having extraordinary vision is IMAGINATION.

Walt Disney famously stated that,

“Disneyland would continue to grow so long as imagination exists.”

The vision for our life, school, and community must be protected. And our imagination must constantly be strengthened.

2. Great Leaders Cultivate BELIEF

Our beliefs play a direct role in the results we get in life.

Walt Disney had a strong sense if SELF BELIEF.

Before Steamboat Willie existed, Disney was fired from a newspaper company where his boss told him he “didn’t have a creative bone in his body.”

Those words could have caused him to SPIRAL,

→ Instead he allowed them to INSPIRE him.

His belief was so strong, he took a mortgage on his home to help finalize funding for the movie Snow White.

A risk that could have been detrimental turned out to be one of his biggest success stories.

Disney had tapped into:

The High Powered Belief Success Cycle

The quality of your belief → Opens up your POTENTIAL

Potential inspires you → To take massive ACTION

Actions you take → Lead to achieving BIG RESULTS

Big results then → Strengthen your quality of BELIEF

This is why leaders have an irrational level of belief.

3. Great Leaders Take RESPONSIBILITY

“The price of greatness is responsibility.”

—Winston Churchill

It’s taking ownership for problems that aren’t even necessarily yours.

Walt Disney was known for frequently walking the park.

He would:

- Check for chipped paint

- Pick trash up off the ground

- Ensure everything was performing well

He could have said,

“That’s for the creative department.”

“That’s the janitors job.”

“That’s up to operations.”

Instead he said,

“That’s my name on the gate.”

Final Thoughts

I came to Disneyland to inspire teens to Lead, Dream, and Take Action. But I left inspired by the quality of work that goes into every aspect of Disneyland.

From the amusements, to the food, to the world-class level of service. I left with a head full of notes, a heart full of joy, and my hands full of more Mickey Mouse gear than I care to admit.

How about you, leaders? What leadership lessons can you pull from someone like Walt Disney?

PS - If you are looking for someone to share high-powered leadership principles with your students to help them lead, dream, and take ownership, book a call or send me an email, and let's talk about how I can help.

Book a call here!