Leadership Lessons from “The Intern”: Authenticity, Adaptability, and Organizational Culture

Introduction

“The Intern” is a heartwarming comedy-drama film directed by Nancy Meyers. The story revolves around Ben Whittaker, a widower in his early seventies who embarks on a new chapter in his life by becoming an intern at ABOUT THE FIT, an e-commerce company. Feeling emptiness after years of retirement and the loss of his beloved wife, Ben seeks a fresh purpose and adventure.

His decision to join the senior intern program at ABOUT THE FIT piques the interest of Jules Ostin, the company’s ambitious and successful CEO. Initially skeptical about having an older intern, Jules soon discovers the value of Ben’s experience, wisdom, and authenticity. As Ben navigates the challenges of the modern workplace, he forms unique connections with his younger colleagues, who are intrigued and sometimes amused by his presence.

Through humorous interactions and genuine moments, the film explores the generational gap and the power of bridging differences between age groups. Ben’s warmth, adaptability, and willingness to learn win the hearts of his colleagues, proving that age should never be a barrier to forming meaningful connections or making a positive impact in the workplace. As Ben immerses himself in the company’s vibrant culture, he becomes an essential part of the team. He shares valuable life lessons with his colleagues and learns from their fresh perspectives in return. The film beautifully captures the growth of relationships and the transformation of attitudes as both Ben and the team learn from one another, breaking generational stereotypes and embracing diversity.

Selected Theories for Training

For the training program, three selected theories from the course material are as follows.

Trait Theory

The film allows us to explore influential leaders’ personality traits and characteristics. Ben Whittaker exemplifies traits such as adaptability, resilience, and empathy. Through his journey, the team will learn how certain personality traits can contribute to effective leadership and create a positive work environment.

Path-Goal Theory

The film presents opportunities to comprehend how leaders can inspire and direct their team members to accomplish the goals of the organization. Ben’s supportive and encouraging approach toward his colleagues demonstrates the importance of providing clear guidance and removing obstacles to help the team achieve its goals.

Organizational Culture

It becomes crucial to analyze how the film addresses and improves the company’s culture. The group will examine the positive effects on productivity, cooperation, and employee happiness of embracing diversity, encouraging open communication, and cultivating a culture of respect.

Addressing Organizational Culture

“The Intern” shines a light on the significance of organizational culture in the workplace. The film portrays the power of embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment. As Ben joins ABOUT THE FIT, his authenticity and adaptability become critical factors in positively influencing the company’s culture. His ability to break generational barriers and build genuine connections with his younger colleagues demonstrates how embracing differences can lead to a healthier and more productive work environment.

The film encourages viewers to cultivate a culture of mutual respect and open communication, emphasizing that when individuals feel valued and included, they are more motivated to contribute their best efforts. By observing Ben’s interactions with the team, the training program will highlight the importance of organizational culture in employee satisfaction and retention. The film serves as a reminder that a positive work culture, one that promotes collaboration and support, is crucial for fostering a cohesive and successful team.

Analysis of a Specific Scene

The scene where Ben Whittaker is interviewed for the internship position is crucial for understanding leadership. In this scene, Ben demonstrates his authenticity, adaptability, and self-awareness. He showcases his willingness to learn, take initiative, and contribute positively to the team (다들린다, 2018). This moment is pivotal as it sets the tone for his journey as a senior intern and sets an example for team members to follow.

By analyzing this scene, the team can learn the importance of being true to oneself while embracing change. Ben’s ability to adapt to modern office culture and his positive outlook on learning new things invite team members to become better leaders by being open to continuous growth and development. Furthermore, the scene exemplifies how one’s attitude and behavior can impact the perception of others, breaking generational stereotypes and fostering mutual respect and understanding among team members.

Training Program: “Leadership Lessons from The Intern”

In this training program, we’ll analyze a pivotal scene from “The Intern” that offers valuable insights into effective leadership. Ben Whittaker’s authenticity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence shine during his interview, making him a standout leader despite his age. By learning from his example, we can foster a positive work environment, motivate our teams, and navigate challenges with resilience. Join us on this journey of leadership discovery through “The Intern” and unlock the keys to impactful leadership.

Guided Session 1: Introduction and Film Screening

Objective: Introduce the film “The Intern” and set the stage for exploring leadership lessons. Instructions:

• Welcome the team and explain the purpose of the training program, focusing on developing leadership skills through the analysis of “The Intern.”
• Provide a brief overview of the film’s synopsis, emphasizing critical themes related to leadership, such as adaptability, resilience, and embracing diversity.
• Screen the movie “The Intern” for the team, ensuring they pay close attention to scenes that showcase leadership behaviors and challenges.
• After the film, ask the participants to share their initial thoughts and observations about the characters and their leadership qualities.

Guided Session 2: Deconstructing Leadership Traits

Objective: Explore the personality traits and characteristics of influential leaders using the Trait Theory. Instructions:

• Begin by reviewing the Trait Theory, explaining how certain traits contribute to effective leadership.
• Break the team into small groups and assign each group a character from the film (e.g., Ben, Jules, or other team members) to analyze their leadership traits.
• In their groups, participants should discuss and identify specific traits demonstrated by their assigned character and provide examples from the film.
• Facilitate a group discussion, allowing each team to present their findings and encourage comparisons between the characters’ traits and real-life leadership situations.
• Summarize the main leadership traits observed in the film, emphasizing their significance in building effective leadership.

Guided Session 3: Applying Path-Goal Theory

Objective: Understand how leaders can motivate and guide their team members to achieve organizational objectives using the Path-Goal Theory. Instructions:

• Briefly recap the Path-Goal Theory and its key concepts, such as leadership styles, follower characteristics, and situational factors.
• Analyze specific scenes from the film where Ben provides guidance and support to his colleagues, helping them overcome obstacles.
• Lead a discussion on how Ben’s leadership style aligns with the Path-Goal Theory and how it impacts the team’s performance and morale.
• Facilitate a brainstorming session where participants identify potential obstacles their team might face and discuss suitable leadership approaches to address them.
• Encourage participants to apply the principles of the Path-Goal Theory to their leadership roles and challenges.

Guided Session 4: Building a Positive Organizational Culture

Objective: Explore how “The Intern” addresses and improves organizational culture, focusing on embracing diversity and fostering respect. Instructions:

• Revisit the importance of organizational culture and its impact on employee satisfaction and productivity.
• Highlight specific scenes from the film that depict the positive effects of embracing diversity and creating an inclusive work environment.
• Engage the team in a discussion about their own experiences with workplace culture and how it influences their performance and well-being.
• Facilitate a group activity where participants brainstorm actionable steps to foster a more positive and inclusive organizational culture in their team or department.
• Encourage open dialogue and sharing of personal insights on how to improve the workplace environment.

Guided Session 5: Analyzing the Interview Scene

Objective: Deep dive into a specific scene from the film and extract valuable leadership lessons. Instructions:

• Revisit the interview scene where Ben applies for the internship position.
• Lead a scene-by-scene analysis, highlighting key moments where Ben demonstrates leadership qualities such as authenticity, adaptability, and self-awareness.
• Encourage participants to discuss how they can apply similar behaviors in their own professional lives to become better leaders.
• Facilitate role-playing exercises where team members take on the roles of different characters from the scene, practicing effective communication and leadership skills.
• Summarize the main takeaways from the scene analysis, emphasizing actionable insights that participants can incorporate into their leadership approach.

Conclusion

Through “The Intern,” we explored valuable leadership insights, highlighting the significance of authenticity, adaptability, and empathy. Embrace the lessons learned from Ben Whittaker and the team at ABOUT THE FIT to become better leaders. Remember, leadership is not confined to titles; it’s about inspiring others to excel. Keep growing, keep learning, and lead with purpose and authenticity to create a positive impact on your team and the organization.

Reference

다들린다. (2018). The Intern 3. YouTube. Web.