Leadership Lessons from the Movie “A Christmas Story”

A Christmas Story has been watched by millions of people ever since it was released in 1983. Filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, the movie looks at Christmas in the 1940s through the lives of the Parker family. It focuses on 9-year-old Ralphie, along with his mom, dad, and little brother. While some Christmas movies come and go after a year or two, this is one of the ones that has staying power, lasting for decades. Such movies are not only funny, but they also strike a chord with many people because they remind us of life experiences and seasons of our own pasts. Here are five leadership lessons that emerge from the cult classic, A Christmas Story.

1. Families, like teams, can be quirky and imperfect, but that doesn’t make them bad.

Everyone thinks their family is “normal,” but most families have their own eccentricities. And that is true for the Parkers. Ralphie, his dad (referred to as The Old Man), his little brother Randy, and his mom are all just very “average,” yet each has their own peculiarities. For example, The Old Man is thrilled to have won a house lamp in the shape of a woman’s leg. That’s a weird one for sure. Or how little brother Randy shoves his face into his food, squealing like a pig. Our teams are no different. Each of us, owners and team leaders included, has imperfections and peculiarities, many of which are humorous, sometimes annoying, but not necessarily bad. Such variety and personality keep things interesting!

2. Sometimes you need to stand up to a bully.

Many schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces have bullies, and some are much worse than others. Some bullies try to be physically intimidating, while others use their tongue and positional power as their weapons of choice. Ralphie and his friends had their bullies too: Scut Farkus and Grover Dill. With a name like Scut Farkus, you just know he is going to be a problem. He and his little sidekick Grover are like two wild dogs waiting for someone to torment. But this time, Ralphie reaches his breaking point and finally stands up to them. And, to the surprise of both himself and his friend, it worked. The more a bully knows they can take advantage of you, the more they will do it. So, sometimes you need to stand up and say, “No more!” For example, in a workplace, this may mean having an honest conversation with someone, or if that is not an option, talking to an HR professional or an appropriate supervisor.

3. Trying too hard to impress others can end up in embarrassment.

If we are honest, most leaders can identify a time, or four, in their lives when they tried to impress others. Dropping a few names. Exaggerating a few details. Taking more credit for a success than you are due. All of this in order to make ourselves look good in our quest to be accepted by others. One of the most remembered scenes in A Christmas Story is when Ralphie’s friend Schwartz “triple-dog dares” their friend Flick to stick his tongue onto the ice-cold flagpole in the school yard. And the outcome was painful and embarrassing! While striving to impress others is not unique, it seldom has a healthy motivation behind it, and worse yet, often results in the opposite – looking foolish.

4. Sometimes, as leaders, we do things we don’t want to do.

Most of us had an Aunt Clara in our lives. You know, the type of person who gives a gift that, well, just isn’t what we want. When Ralphie’s mom makes him try on the pink bunny pajamas provided by his Aunt Clara, he looks like a “deranged Easter bunny!” There are times in our lives as leaders when we are called upon to do things that are unnatural to us and far outside of our comfort zone. Yet we still do them because we believe they will help or encourage others in the long run. Even managers and leaders need to sometimes do what they don’t want to because it needs to be done!

5. Sometimes, the wishes in our lives can greatly disappoint.

Remember times in your life where you wanted something so badly because it would make you happy… fulfilled… complete? For 9-year-old Ralphie, it was a Red Ryder BB gun. He would dream about that gun and just had to have it. But everyone kept telling him he couldn’t have it because “he would shoot his eye out.” Even Santa (a less-than-warm and welcoming character) told him NO! But on Christmas morning, to his surprise, there it was – his very own Red Ryder BB gun. And what happens the first time he shoots it in his backyard? Yep – he almost lost an eye!

In real life, we have our wishes too. If only we had greater pay. A nicer boss. A better employee. A bigger home. A higher-end SUV. And quite often, when we finally get them, we are still disappointed. But why? Because the wishes in our lives seldom live up to our expectations. The things we desperately desire give us a short-term boost at best but seldom provide long-term happiness.

As Christmas fast approaches, the Jesus of the real Christmas Story did not come to provide temporary satisfaction but rather long-term purpose for our lives and a forgiveness that can set free even the most broken and corrupt nature that resides in each of us. This Christmas, may you experience a Christmas Story (far greater than that portrayed in a movie) by knowing Jesus – the one who provides lasting hope and extraordinary grace to all who seek it.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Jay Desko is the President & 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.