Executive Fight Club: Four Things Leaders Can Learn From Tyler Durden

January 24, 2012

 

When Fight Club was released in 1999, it was met with both critical praise and public outcry. Some found it to be too violent (though ironically enough, if you were to fast forward ten years, it would feel tame, but that’s another subject for another day) and the outrage against it was so great that one talk show host decided to spoil the movie and deter anyone from seeing it by revealing the central plot twist. Needless to say, if you haven’t seen it, it’s quite good.

During a session of watching it for a dynamics of power critique, I began to wonder  why anyone would follow the lead character, Tyler Durden, so far into what was clearly a descent into madness. It couldn’t have been just his charisma or people skills or even his plan. Tyler Durden was able to inspire people to follow him because he, like any good leader, did certain things incredibly well.  In fact, there are four things that every leader can learn from Tyler Durden.

1) Tyler Durden didn’t just pass out the Kool-Aid. He drank it along with his followers.

One thing that stands out the most about Tyler Durden is that he didn’t just start a fight club, then sit back and watch everyone go at it. He fought in it. He was clearly present and invested at each of the sessions. Granted, as his influence grew and he began establishing more fight clubs around the U.S., he probably wasn’t able to attend every session everywhere, since he was only one man. But the image of him fighting with everyone else really drove home a point to those who followed him. It wasn’t about whether he won or lost, it was that he was right there taking part with people who admired him. That willingness to get one’s hands dirty is the first step to earning the respect of the people following you. Take careful note of the fact that it wasn’t a perfunctory act. Tyler was clearly invested in the ideals behind fight club. Also one of the key scenes shows that Tyler and his “generals” or second hand men also were required to fight. Going into the trenches beside your followers not only inspires, it fortifies in their eyes your resolve towards the common goal.

2) Tyler Durden kept it simple.

How many of us who’ve seen Fight Club can remember the rules of Fight Club? There were seven total (if you don’t count the first and second rule as separate) and they covered most of the bases. There were no intricate rules about how to fight, or where a person could hit, or weight classes. That was all left up to the people fighting. The rules were simple.  As Fight Club expanded and became a larger organization with singular purpose, Tyler continued to keep it simple. The grand overarching plan he had in mind wasn’t revealed to everyone who needed to know it. He communicated what was needed to those who needed it. As a leader, there’s no need to make the simple matters complicated. If it’s simple, leave it simple. Oftentimes we bog ourselves down in empty rhetoric, explaining every intricate detail of future plans to every cog in the machine. This isn’t necessary. Keep it simple. Give the information that’s needed to those who need it.

3) Tyler Durden stayed on message.

There was never a point where Tyler Durden deviated from his message. From the first time we’re introduced to him to the grand culmination of the overarching plot, there’s not a point where what he’s been saying conflicts itself.  And that message was passed on to every one of his followers. He lived his message, he defended it, and in giving assignments, he was sure that each assignment was clearly part of that message. As leaders, staying on message, providing continuity and stability for those following you is vital. However, let it be noted that staying on message isn’t “staying the course”. If you have a legitimate reason to abandon a course of action, don’t hesitate. But remember, your followers expect you to be consistent, in fact as followers they NEED you to be. If you show hesitation or deviation, they will see it and that trepidation will result in your followers not believing anything you tell them.

4) Tyler Durden went to bat for his people.

There’s a scene in Fight Club where the owner of the bar that the Fight Club met at confronts the group. No one stands up, except for Durden. What results is Tyler Durden taking a beatdown to secure a place for his guys to fight. He went to bat for his people. He took a loss so that they could have their place. He could have easily have acquiesced, told everyone to pack up, but he faced two men, one with a gun, took several hits, and still was able to take care of his people. Leaders have to take some losses for the greater good, losses that no one else is willing to take. Leaders are the first to fall on grenades, not the last. If you’re looking to someone else for sacrifice, don’t be surprised if no one will follow you. Also notable is the fact that Durden didn’t make that sacrifice where no one could see it. Needless to say, sacrifices that go unnoticed still count, but the ones your followers see count double.

With these four tools, every leader can be as inspiring as Tyler Durden, no matter how crazy their actual message may be. Take these four points and go out there and inspire some followers of your own.

Today’s post is brought to you by Javann Jones – marketing and social media specialist at IncBlot Organizational Psychology.

 

 

 

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