Reduce the Glorification of Violence

What does being a supervisor have to do with reducing the glorification of violence?

Good question. I think it is everyone's responsibility to find ways to create more peace in the world. Successful supervisors, centered leaders -- bring about more peace in the world. These days that is really a challenge, so every little thing that we can do as individuals matters.

One of the other things that I do, in addition to training supervisors for success, is work on films. Usually that is as an actor in a short film production. Sometimes, I'm an extra in a larger film. I haven't scored that really big role in a really big film yet but hey, life is for living the adventure and I'm having a blast with the art that I create.

Since when I do get a role my "type" is usually the antagonist (the creepy morale bending bad guy is my specialty -- go figure!). Sometimes that means handling violent action. A gun. A knife. Usually, for my character it involves actions other than weapons, sometimes manipulating other people to handle the dirty work. It isn't ideal, but I'm doing my job in playing a role.

Count how many movie posters and ads you see that have guns in the picture. The percentage is disturbingly high. So how, since I play the villain so many times, do I have the nerve to say we should reduce our glorification of violence?

Because good drama does not require it. People are constantly in conflict. We can assert our needs, we can even play manipulative games (yuck) without pulling out a weapon.

The arts can be dramatic without violence.

It takes some imagination. It takes some complicated plotting. It takes a lot of character development. The actors I know would treasure that kind of work. The actors I work with love a focus on character rather than action. It can be done.

The arts can be dramatic without violence. Let's stop writing stories with guns in them.

For the supervisors of the world, that doesn't mean you need to take a stand (or agree with whatever you think my stand is) on gun control or gun ownership. The gun owners that I know are very safe, very respectful, and very careful with their guns. That's not the point. The point is that we can stop the glorification of violence as a means of resolving conflict.

Because there are so many other, better, safer, more respectful ways to resolve conflict.

What do you think?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Interested in some ways to handle conflict more responsibility? Explore our teleclass on resolving conflict.

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New Ideas

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High Performance Leadership Combination

We can rationalize anything without making it justified. Leaders should always ask: who is this good for other than me? High performance leadership does NOT mean performance at any cost. It means performance that serves a noble cause while also benefiting people. High performance leadership is a combination. Results without relationships are shallow and temporary. Take care of both, and you'll be a high performance leader. -- doug smith

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For example

Get good at something that won't obsolete itself. For example: emotional intelligence creating great conversations encouraging people leadership What would you add to the list? Which ones are you developing? -- doug smith

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The goals we seek bring a lot of pull to them. We get wrapped in them. It's useful and it's powerful when we care about our goals so much that they propel us forward and keep us working even when we're tired, beyond the boundaries of our usual limitations. But they should not take us beyond the boundaries of our usual values. They should not trick us into bending the rules just because the rules are in the way. Truly high performance leaders of character who are focused, and centered, and noble maintain integrity. No cheating is ever worth the outcome. Integrity is so rare that many people don't even recognize. If you do, be thankful. We need leaders like you. To truly understand integrity you've got to keep it. Even when it's hard. Even the lines are blurred. -- doug smith

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When you start with kindness you don't have to stay there, but you probably will. It works better for others. It works better for you. If you're human, you'll probably relapse. It does take practice to stay the course. The course starts by starting. When you start with kindness, it becomes more naturally the way. High performance leadership develops from the core leadership strengths of clarity, creativity, courage, and compassion. Build one of those strengths today thru some act of kindness and the others will get stronger as well. -- doug smith

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Some people measure quantify first and quality later. Some people measure money first and impact to the team later (not even second!). How you measure productivity might determine your character and your reputation. Put people first. -- doug smith

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