8 Leadership Lessons from Home Alone this Christmas

We all learn from multiple sources. Good experiences. Difficult events. From those both young and old. Listening to podcasts. Reading books and blogs. And of course… from watching movies. For example, we learn about sacrificial servanthood from John Candy in Trains, Planes and Automobiles. We learn unconditional friendship from Chris Farley in Tommy Boy. And we learn about the danger of being over-controlling from Robert DeNiro in Meet the Fockers. This Christmas, here are 8 leadership lessons from one of America’s most popular holiday movies – Home Alone!

1. Don’t underestimate those who are younger than you.

Here in the western world, we have such a dichotomy. On one hand, we dismiss those who are older and worship youthfulness. Yet, on the other hand, we often resist giving younger people the opportunity to lead, claiming they don’t have enough experience. In Home Alone, the main character “Kevin” (played by Macaulay Culkin) humorously showed how a younger person, when given the right opportunity and under the right circumstances, can prove to be both resourceful and creative. As leaders, we would be wise to give the younger team members around us real opportunities to lead rather than keep them on the sidelines until they are “more experienced,” which is sometimes an excuse for not wanting to give up any authority!

2. Pressure is often the source of innovation.

Have you ever sat around and thought, “I want to be creative in the next few hours?” If you did, the results were likely zero. Creativity seldom works that way. More often, it requires a catalyst such as an unmet need, an unplanned idea or discovery, or even a crisis – like the pandemic we just experienced. Under the pressure of accidentally being left home alone while the rest of the family went to Paris, Kevin first experienced fear but then became very resourceful, finding solutions to how to make it on his own and how to stay safe while being chased by two bad guys. As leaders, we would be smart to consider pressure and challenges as one of the best times to look for innovation and creative ideas.

3. Increase focus and decrease distraction.

While accidentally being left behind proved to serve as a funny theme of Home Alone, the reality is a bit more serious in real life. An absence of focus combined with distractions have resulted in children being left in hot cars, a law enforcement worker accidentally leaving his gun in a public bathroom, and employees clicking on ransomware links. Even successful leaders make mistakes. But the more we focus and limit distraction, the greater our leadership effectiveness will be. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it well many years ago: “Concentration is the secret of strengths in politics, in war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs.”

4. There is always someone ready to cause trouble.

EVERY town, church, and workplace have people who are prone to cause trouble. There are gossips, thieves, anti-socials, and cheaters, to name a few. In the case of Home Alone, you have Harry and Marv, otherwise known as “The Wet Bandits” because of their signature move of leaving the water running in the homes they have robbed. Proverbs 24 talks about people whose hearts devise violence and lips that talk of trouble, and Proverbs 6 says God hates people who devise evil plans and sow conflict. Harry and Marv appear to have plenty of company, but a wise leader stays alert, hires carefully, coaches purposefully, and fires when needed.

5. Mistakes will be made – fix them fast.

We love to critique mistakes when others make them and overlook mistakes when we make them (you know it’s true). Your organization could have a six sigma blackbelt, ISO 9001 expert, or Master Quality Manager, but mistakes are like bacteria that can slip through even the slightest opening. The reality is that Kevin’s parents FORGOT HIM, and that was one major mistake. They could have sat down to analyze how it happened, talked to a therapist about why it happened, or worked like a racehorse to fix it! Fortunately, Kevin’s mom took this last approach, and we should too.

6. Everyone has a story – watch and listen beyond the surface.

As shocking as it may be, I sometimes can be too quick to judge or reach negative conclusions about someone before I even really know them – likely a combination of my arrogance, insecurity, and stupidity! And the faster I do this, the harder it is to see the rest of the person, including the heart that resides below the surface. In the movie, Kevin’s neighbor Marley is a classic example of this. Mean rumors, fear, and avoidance were common responses towards him. But once Kevin heard Marley’s story, he realized that he was a caring and transparent guy who acknowledged the mistakes he had made. And Marley was the one who stepped up to save Kevin from the bad guys! In addition, Kevin, in his own youthful way, took the bold step to go beyond his fear to engage, understand, and call out fear that had isolated Marley. Every person has a story. Most organizations have a “Marley” who can intimidate and isolate. Don’t let that stop you from moving into their lives a bit deeper. The more we suspend judgment and listen, the more we will learn from them and grow in our empathy.

7. Poorly managed conflict has consequences.

The launching point for Home Alone starts with a conflict between annoying little Kevin and his bully big brother, Buzz. Whenever you have two or more people that work together or are in regular connection, the opportunity is set for potential conflict. Disagreements are ubiquitous – you cannot avoid them for very long. So, it’s important to learn how to better manage them. We have lived through a year of heightened conflicts related to racial justice, COVID mitigation, and political platforms, to name just a few. Having differences of opinion is a part of every workplace, community, and church. Poorly managed conflicts will always result in damage. But, courageously-managed conflicts and finding common ground can result in stronger relationships and healthier communities.

8. Everyone needs a place to go when they feel like crap.

It is interesting that two unlikely people – Kevin, a kid that would normally avoid church, and Marley, an old guy who has a lot of regrets in life – end up connecting at church. In a snowstorm. During Christmas. Churches are far from perfect places and all of them have flawed leaders. We have far too many examples of this in the Christian community and all other religious communities as well. But church can still be a place of emotional healing, personal forgiveness, and relational restoration. Every leader needs a place to go to when they get emotionally beat up and continuously critiqued. If you are not ready for a church or religious community, at least find a wise, trusted advisor to encourage and guide you.

Here at The Center Consulting Group, our team knows all too well that every leader is broken somewhere and in some way, including each of us. This is why we are grateful for the strength, encouragement, and hope that come from these promising words found in Isaiah 9:6 which forecast the arrival of Jesus:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

If we have learned anything over the past 20 months, it is our need for the hope, grace, forgiveness, and counsel that emerged that Christmas day over 2,000 years ago, all beginning with the birth of Jesus.

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.