Ruh roh! From Scooby Doo to the Powerpuff Girls...what can cartoons teach us about leadership?

After all those hours of TV, did we pesky kids actually learn anything useful from our childhood cartoon favourites? Surprisingly maybe they did teach us a thing or two about the corporate world…

Scooby Doo – It’s all about teamwork. With a solid team by our side, anything is possible. Surround yourself with people who bring different skills to the mix.

Gromit  – Sometimes the quietest people in the room have the best ideas. So true. Listen to them.

Moana – Be prepared to go first. As a manager, lead from the front, set a positive example and be prepared to go into unchartered waters.

Lisa Simpson – Have faith in your own values. Be prepared to stand by your moral compass, even if it means standing alone. You’ll sleep better for it.

Jerry (Tom and Jerry) – Sometimes it’s the small moves, the acting fast rather than hesitating, that gets you through the biggest challenges. Agility is key, so keep your wits about you and stay nimble.

Bugs Bunny – Calmness and staying cool under pressure can get you through testing times. Try to take things more in your stride and don’t sweat the small stuff. When madness seems to be all around, take a breathe and pause. 

Powerpuff Girls – Diversity brings great strength to a team. Harness the differences, the skills and capabilities that your team brings – play to peoples’ strengths to maximise the team’s success.

Batman – Proper planning prevents poor performance. Think about your strategy, evaluate your options and anticipate the challenges before jumping in to tackle something new. Be prepared to take tough decisions and stay strong through the difficult times – keep fighting. Kapow!

Wombles – Ahead of their time, the core philosophy of the Wombles was about minimising waste. Their motto to ‘Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish’ modelled environmental leadership long before it became mainstream. Leave your world – and your department – in a better condition than when you found it.

Muttley (Wacky Races) – Keep your sense of humour. In the great scheme of things, you’ll look back on your career and the crazy moments will make good stories      somewhere along the line. Sometimes you’ve just got to laugh!

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