The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Ch 16
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Questions and Answers

What critical element does a leader need to succeed if they have passion, tools, and people but cannot get the organization moving?

  • Strategic planning
  • Momentum (correct)
  • Technical skills
  • Increased funding

In what area did Ed Catmull change his focus while in college?

  • Business management
  • Physics and computer science (correct)
  • Animation and filmmaking to art history
  • Electrical engineering

What was the name of the division that Ed Catmull ran at Lucasfilm Ltd.?

  • Animation Technology Group
  • Computer Graphics Division (correct)
  • Visual Effects Division
  • Pixar Animation Studios

Who purchased the computer graphics division from George Lucas and renamed it Pixar?

<p>Steve Jobs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the short films that Pixar began making?

<p>To showcase their technology prowess (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one potential direction the organization considered before it transformed into an entertainment powerhouse?

<p>Becoming a provider of medical hardware (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated as the primary responsibility of a leader in creating momentum within an organization?

<p>Initiating and sustaining momentum (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What personal qualities are emphasized as necessary for a leader to generate momentum?

<p>Vision, passion, and enthusiasm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Jaime Escalante address the challenges he faced at Garfield High School?

<p>By implementing a calculus class for motivated students (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the new principal's arrival signify for Escalante's goal of improving the school?

<p>A fresh opportunity for change and improvement in the school (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant realization did Catmull and Lasseter have after presenting their animation film?

<p>They connected with the audience through storytelling. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Pixar's method for ensuring financial survival in its early days?

<p>Creating computer-animated commercials. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial response from Disney to Pixar's proposal for creating feature films?

<p>Offer of a contract for three feature films. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did Pixar face during the development of Toy Story?

<p>Characters were deemed too edgy and unlikable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome when Toy Story was finally released?

<p>It exceeded box office expectations significantly. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Bob Iger approach the challenges faced by Disney's animation division?

<p>By acquiring Pixar. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of momentum signify for a leader in an organization?

<p>It is crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving success. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does momentum do to the perception of leaders during successful times?

<p>It makes them seem better than they actually are. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does momentum affect the performance of followers in an organization?

<p>It helps them perform better than they expect. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason leaders may strive to control momentum in a competitive situation?

<p>To stop the opposing team from gaining an advantage. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What metaphor is used to describe momentum’s effect on organizations?

<p>A magnifying glass. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the essence of the Law of Momentum?

<p>Strong momentum can make average teams perform extraordinarily. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What analogy is made to compare the difficulty of starting momentum versus maintaining it?

<p>It’s harder to start skiing than to steer once up on the water. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of a leader experiencing momentum over their career?

<p>They may appear more competent than they truly are. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the story of Pixar illustrate regarding momentum as a change agent?

<p>It showcases how momentum can drive significant positive change. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do teams on the verge of winning often overlook injuries or mistakes?

<p>Momentum makes problems seem smaller and more manageable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Momentum in Leadership

The force that propels an organization forward towards its goals, making it move in the right direction.

Law of the Big Mo

The principle that emphasizes the importance of building and utilizing momentum in leadership to achieve success.

Starting from Scratch

The process of beginning anew, often involving the development of skills, resources, and a team to achieve a vision.

Ed Catmull's Journey

A story of aspiring to become an animator, transitioning to a career in computer science, and ultimately rekindling his dream through innovative computer graphics.

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Pixar's Early Years

The initial struggle of Pixar to become profitable, despite their technological advancements, and their decision to create short films to showcase their capabilities.

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Pixar's Breakthrough Moment

The moment Pixar earned credibility with its audience by creating a short film that focused on story and characters instead of solely showcasing technical advancements.

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Pixar's Turning Point

When Disney offered Pixar a contract to create three full-length feature films using computer animation, marking a significant step towards realizing Ed Catmull's vision.

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Toy Story's Initial Struggles

The difficulties faced by Pixar during the development of Toy Story, including issues with character likability and story structure.

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Toy Story's Success

The immense success of Toy Story, which exceeded expectations and significantly boosted Pixar's momentum, marking a turning point for computer animation.

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Disney's Reversal of Fortune

Disney's downturn in animation and their subsequent acquisition of Pixar, turning the tables on the company that had initially helped them succeed.

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Momentum's Value in Leadership

Momentum is a key driver of success, propelling organizations forward and enabling them to overcome challenges.

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No Momentum = Dead Stop

Organizations without momentum struggle to make progress, even with simple tasks, due to low morale and a lack of forward drive.

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What's a leader's role in momentum?

A leader is responsible for sparking and sustaining momentum within an organization. They initiate and drive progress, inspiring others to follow.

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Where does momentum begin?

Momentum starts with the individual leader. It originates from their vision, passion, and enthusiasm. It's a force that ignites change and inspires others to follow.

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What happens when a leader lacks momentum?

When a leader lacks momentum, they're unable to initiate change or inspire others. The organization becomes stagnant and struggles to reach its full potential.

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How does momentum impact a stagnant organization?

Momentum can revitalize a stagnant organization by igniting passion and motivation. It encourages action and empowers individuals to believe in the possibility of change.

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What's the significance of small beginnings?

Small beginnings are crucial for building momentum. They establish a foundation for future growth and provide tangible evidence of progress. These initial successes fuel motivation and strengthen a leader's position.

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Momentum Exaggerator

Momentum amplifies the perception of success and failure, making wins seem bigger and losses seem worse.

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Momentum's Impact on Leaders

Momentum enhances a leader's perceived abilities, making them appear more competent during successful periods and less competent during slumps.

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Momentum's Effect on Followers

Momentum motivates and inspires followers to perform at higher levels, exceeding expectations.

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Momentum: Easier to Steer Than Start

Building momentum requires effort, but once established, maintaining and directing it becomes easier.

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Momentum: Powerful Change Agent

Momentum is a driving force for transformation. The successful trajectory of Pixar is an example.

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The Law of the Big Mo

Momentum amplifies success and failure, impacting how we perceive both leaders and their actions.

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Momentum in Sports

When a team is on a roll, every play seems to work, and every shot seems to score.

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Momentum and Time-Outs

Coaches call time-outs to disrupt the momentum of the opposing team and prevent them from gaining a significant advantage.

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Momentum and Leadership Perspective

Momentum alters how people view leaders. Success amplifies their capabilities, while failure diminishes their credibility.

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Momentum and Team Performance

Teams with strong momentum experience a collective boost in performance, pushing individuals beyond their usual capabilities.

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Study Notes

Momentum as a Leader's Best Friend

  • Momentum is crucial for organizational success, enabling progress towards a vision. A stagnant organization is unlikely to succeed.

The Story of Pixar

  • Ed Catmull, a visionary animator, initially pursued physics and computer science. Later, he developed innovative computer graphics software.
  • Catmull's computer graphics division at Lucasfilm, later acquired by Steve Jobs as Pixar, faced challenges but demonstrated the importance of story amid technical innovation.
  • Luxo Jr., a short film, proved that engaging narrative was more compelling than showcasing technology. This was key to Pixar's audience connection.
  • Pixar overcame early struggles by focusing on meaningful storytelling and gradually gaining recognition through commercials and short films.
  • A significant contract with Disney to make feature films spurred momentum, but early work on Toy Story faced creative difficulties.
  • Toy Story's success in 1995 demonstrably created momentum, as shown by financial results and subsequent milestones.
  • This success was remarkable given the modest early estimates for box office revenue.

The Essence of Momentum

  • Momentum is essentially a magnifying glass, making successes seem larger and failures smaller. It's the crucial difference between winning and losing in various arenas.
  • Momentum affects perception: In periods of success, leaders can appear more capable than they are; conversely, in slumps, their shortcomings seem more obvious.
  • Momentum can motivate followers to perform beyond expectations; a lack of momentum hinders performance.
  • It's important for managing momentum, as evidenced by coaching time-outs to stop opposition momentum.
  • It's more manageable to steer than to create or initiate. The initial hurdle is far greater than sustaining success
  • It is a change agent, transforming underperforming organizations.

The Leader's Role

  • Momentum originates with the leader, fueled by vision, passion, and enthusiasm. Leaders must actively foster this.
  • Leaders must not merely follow but create momentum; waiting for it to develop passively is detrimental.
  • The leader's responsibility is to establish and sustain momentum to drive the organization forward.

The Example of Jaime Escalante

  • Escalante, a dedicated educator, overcame significant obstacles to inspire students through a small-scale calculus program, using a progressive and proactive approach, earning recognition over time.

  • Escalante persevered through adversity, transforming a struggling school and its culture positively, which eventually helped an entire district.

Building Momentum

  • Leaders must take initiative to identify and counteract factors preventing momentum.
  • Leaders must cultivate motivation with praise, recognition for effort, and rewards for success to ensure momentum develops.
  • Leaders must take responsibility for initiating momentum rather than waiting for it to emerge passively

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Description

Explore the critical role of momentum in leadership through the lens of Pixar's journey. Learn how Ed Catmull's emphasis on storytelling over technology paved the way for Pixar's success in the animation industry. This quiz will highlight key moments in Pixar's development and the importance of maintaining momentum in organizational success.

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