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Real wisdom is often hidden in true stories and unexpected places. One exceptional example of this is the Bollywood movie “Mission Mangal,” a tale of India’s triumph in the field of space exploration loosely based on scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Directed by Jagan Shakti, the movie portrays the journey of the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) first interplanetary expedition, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), and the dedicated scientists behind it.
The values displayed in Mission Mangal are powerful reminders of the significance of workplace ambition and personal growth. By breaking down a movie that presents the hardships and failures scientists deal with to achieve their goals, we discover invaluable lessons applicable to our own lives. Much like the challenges faced in a lab, our daily work lives are filled with obstacles.
Here are ten inspiring lessons from the movie Mission Mangal that transcend the boundaries of space and echo in life:
1. Embody Leadership
The movie’s opening shows the unsuccessful launch of the ‘Fat Boy’ rocket. Tara Shinde (Vidya Balan), Scientist and Project Director, openly admits her error in judgment to Rakesh Dhawan (Akshay Kumar), the Mission Mangal Project Director.
Rather than pointing fingers during the subsequent press conference, Dhawan steps up. He takes full responsibility and publicly admits that the ultimate decision to proceed with the launch was his.
This moment highlights the importance of performance management and leadership quality. Much like Rakesh Dhawan, who takes responsibility for failures and fosters teamwork for success, great leaders bask in their team’s successes but also shoulder the responsibility for its faults.
Delegating tasks effectively and encouraging teams to thrive independently are essential aspects of leadership. A great leader’s ship rises and falls on the waves of their team performance management and the ability to take accountability on behalf of the team.
2. Encourage Teamwork
Mission Mangal serves as a great example of the power of teamwork and collaboration. Individuals with brilliant minds and their own unique skill sets and perspectives come together to realize their goals.
For instance, when faced with a critical work challenge, team members combine their diverse expertise to overcome obstacles. Similar to how Tara Shinde’s navigation expertise and Rakesh Dhawan’s engineering skills were vital for the mission’s success, the team utilized their diverse skill sets to address different aspects of their project.
In spite of their initial scepticism, the team remained united by a shared vision, fueling their dedication and motivation towards a common goal. This collective effort moved the project forward while showing us that collaboration is key to dealing with problems and achieving success in a professional setting.
As shown by the collaborative spirit displayed in Mission Mangal, effective teamwork goes beyond individual tasks. By utilizing individual strengths, combining knowledge, and developing mutual trust, teams can achieve results that go beyond individual capabilities.
This holistic approach to teamwork creates a shared sense of growth and accomplishment. Just as the Mission Mangal cast harnessed their diverse expertise for a common goal, we, too, can understand the power of teamwork in creating an environment that increases morale and directs us down a path of mutual growth and success.
3. Set the Foundation for Success
A goal as big as launching a mission to Mars requires detailed planning and flawless execution at every stage. The lesson is clear as day: completing complex tasks requires getting the basics right.
The mission’s execution phase follows a precise blueprint and requires attention to detail and focusing on the smaller essentials that make up the larger picture.
This highlights the importance of mastering the fundamentals in any endeavor. Whether it’s a space mission or a business project, a solid foundation built on understanding and executing the basics is crucial for success.
Also Read: Leadership Lessons from ‘Lagaan’
4. Find Success in Failure
As a result of the initial launch failure, Rakesh Dhawan finds himself reassigned to the Mars project and relegated to an overlooked corner of the office with a novice team.
Being considered a project with minimal prospects for success, it appears to be an intentional move to push for Rakesh Dhawan’s resignation. Despite this, Dhawan embraces this challenge instead of folding under the immense burden he is shouldering.
Exemplary leaders like Rakesh Dhawan confront failure head-on, recognizing it as a crucial stepping stone in their journey. In the face of adversity, they pivot their perspectives. True leaders willingly challenge themselves to achieve their best, even in impossible situations.
5. Explore Creative Problem-Solving Solutions
Mission Mangal vividly portrays everyday scenarios that can be constructively utilized and transformed into valuable employee learning opportunities. The Mangal team drew inspiration from a household hack for frying puris without fuel to devise a fuel-efficient approach for reaching Mars using the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket.
In our daily lives, we ourselves encounter challenges and effectively compromise to find effective solutions. If we open up our mindsets to learn and innovate in small ways, we can gradually reach greatness.
Mission Mangal shows the power of innovation in overcoming challenges. Likewise, developing a culture of creativity and innovation is powerful for every organization and project.
Encouraging others to think outside the box and experiment with ideas can create a drive for success in every dynamic and static landscape.
6. Have Confidence in Your Instincts
In the movie, Rakesh Dhawan is consistently confronted with doubts about the practicality of his aspirations. The phrase “It’s impossible” echoes throughout. Even still, every time a daunting challenge is presented, Rakesh Dhawan displays a confident belief in his instincts to move the project along.
In the context of a workplace, confidence goes beyond individual roles, whether one is a team member or a leader. Confidence is a collective need that creates a positive and productive atmosphere.
In a team, each member plays an essential role, and a workplace thrives when every individual, regardless of their position, is able to confidently contribute to an inspiring and motivating environment for the entire team.
7. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Throughout the movie, there are beautiful scenes where Rakesh Dhawan and Tara Shinde remain calm under pressure and demonstrate emotional intelligence.
Even in unfavorable circumstances, Rakesh Dhawan is often shown humming a tune, cool as can be. When Tara Shinde encounters resistance from her family, she remains calm to avoid any potential arguments. Both characters display a lot of emotional maturity during tense situations.
While the specific situations will vary, it’s likely that you’ll also encounter friction against ideas and pushback. The ability is to cultivate emotional intelligence and maintain your composure. In a relaxed state, you will be able to think rationally and effectively navigate all challenges.
Also Read: 20 Lessons From The Movie Dangal
8. Communicate and Delegate Effectively
When Rakesh Dhawan and Tara Shinde address their team, the main purpose is to reiterate the assigned tasks. The team is encouraged to think independently and devise their own creative solutions. This functions as an effective illustration of how effective corporate leadership training helps managers guide their teams.
Leadership roles necessitate a keen understanding of responsibilities and the delegation of tasks in accordance with individual skill sets. Once a task is assigned, team members should feel empowered to take charge and have their own sense of autonomy. This immensely helps in developing a culture of innovation.
9. Sustain Your Success
The success of the Mars mission wasn’t only about reaching Mars; it was also about sustaining the consequences of the achievement.
Learning from this, organizations can broadly recognize what it takes to sustain success in the long run. This can range from completing short-term goals to establishing strategies that ensure growth, the ability to adapt to circumstances, and feelings of accomplishment for the team and its leaders.
The road to sustained success is a rocky one. In a pivotal scene from the movie, a satellite loses communication with the system, forcing the scientist to begin a system reboot. This aligns with the highs and lows that are inevitable for sustaining success.
In real life, working without breaks can unknowingly narrow one’s potential. Much like the scientist’s system reboot, taking breaks or starting from scratch can breathe new life into your project and provide a new perspective.
10. Ignite Your Team's Passion
Mission Mangal demonstrates various instances where all a problem needs is the right thinking. Whether it’s getting the team to believe in the Mars project and find ways to overcome day-to-day hurdles or Tara Shinde navigating family relationships, the scientists in Mission Mangal were driven by immense passion. Such qualities are crucial for developing managers into leaders.
Fueling passion in your work is a driving force for success. Passion sparks creativity and instinctively develops a sense of commitment. When enriched by passion, challenges inherently become opportunities.
Leaders with effective communication skills aim to ignite this passion within their teams, resulting in an atmosphere where a deep sense of purpose drives each member. This lesson can be widely applied to your daily life.
When challenges become too much to handle, remember your purpose and readjust your focus. You should also extend your passion to your teammates and see things from their perspectives.
Conclusion: Reach for the Stars!
Mission Mangal narrates an interesting story that extends to and beyond the principle elements of effective teamwork. From great leadership to thorough planning and working under pressure, the movie provides a variety of lessons that inspire us to reach new heights.
The movie leaves us with one brilliant realization: the journey is not only about the destination but also the pursuit of excellence and the motivation to overcome challenges with a collaborative spirit.
Feel free to let us know how these lessons resonate with you.
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