Business Lessons From Films

Did you know that NASA show the 1998 film Armageddon to their management trainees, inviting them to spot the mistakes? This fascinating piece of information has been doing the rounds on the internet for a few years and it is quoted that they have found 168 mistakes at the time the story was first broadcast. Perhaps it’s more by now.

Why wouldn’t an organisation like NASA use this technique? It’s fun, engaging and educational. The first mistakes will have been easy to find but then it will have become progressively more difficult. Trainees finding a new mistake now will, justifiably, feel pride in spotting something that no-one else has spotted before.

Obviously NASA have an advantage in playing this game; there are plenty of films featuring space missions. However, there are versions that you could use with your team, even if there isn't a film featuring your industry. Most of the more successful films have lessons, for example one of the main lessons of The Godfather is don't make promises that you can't keep. Jerry Maguire is another excellent film and it teaches that they key to business is personal relationships. Another must see film for a sales team is Glengarry Glen Ross.

Films can be very useful as training tools but they can also help teams to bond. Do you remember those times when a teacher allowed you to watch a film at school? The atmosphere in the room was always great. Hotels can set up a conference room for a film screening and there are some hotels around the country which actually have their own cinema. Give us a call if you want to discuss locations.