Leadership Lessons from Henry V

mikelally — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:56:08 +0000

I have been jamming at work. Lots of change. Lots of busy. Got myself promoted. I’ve been stressing about not having posted anything recently.

I just finished reading a great piece from Knowledge@Wharton about the leadership lessons from Shakespeare’s “Henry V” – that of the famous “band of brothers” quote. If you haven’t seen the 1989 (gawd!) movie adaptation starring then HOT Royal Shakespeare Company duo Kenneth Brannagh and Emma Thompson, I strongly recommend you give it a solid attempt. Great stuff. 1989? Really?

The article focuses on a leadership course and the teaching methods used. The class and the article focus on the battle scene – Agincourt, France, 30,000+ French vs. 6,000 English; the motivation speech; the wooing of Katharine and the conference between Henry V and the Archbishop.

Shakespeare shows Henry V as an innovator, motivator, a force of change and a good listener with excellent people skills.

Innovation – Henry V was a smart cookie. He adapted to his environment. He adapted his force. He used a technological advantage by switching from crossbows to longbows. It let his army rain arrows upon the rear elements of the Frech forces. He also used longer pikes and positioned his army on the battlefield to force the French to fight in tighter quarters.

Motivation - Henry is a great motivator. He gives the famous “Band of Brothers” speech:

“From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember’d;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he today that shed his blood with me

Shall be my brother.”

Henry does a fantastic job of defining what success, a victory at Agincourt, will look like. It’s worth going to the article and reading the whole section. I love the part where he tells the men that they can leave if they want to because he doesn’t want to stand and fight next to a man that would desert his comrades like that.

Change Leader – Henry has a lengthy conversation with the Archbishop of Cantebury where he asks if he has the right to reclaim France. Prior to this speech, Henry has been maneuvering and positioning his cause politically. The question was answered well before it was asked of the Archbishop. Henry went to the stakeholders, got their buy-in to the plan by negotiating. This was a major decision and he went about it deftly.

Listening and People Skills – During the surrender of France, Henry decides to woo Katherine, the princess. He could have ordered her to be his Queen.

“Fair Katharine, and most fair,

Will you voudhsafe to teach a soldier terms

Such as will enter at a lady’s ear

And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?…

Throughout this scene, he listens, he adapts his arguements, he even tries to speak to her in her native French. He was humble. He says he is a King and soldier but terrible with the ladies. But his best work is his ability to reposition himself from enemy/conquerer of France to a friend of France.

The article states from the people that run the class: “He incentivized her. She was the princess of a depposed king, and she left the room as a queen of England and France. It was a career-enhancing move for her.”

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mikelally — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:41:34 +0000

This is totally worth the two minutes of your life. 40 movie clips cut and edited together to form an inspirational montage.

mikelally.net » Film

Leadership Lessons from Henry V

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40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

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