One of my favorite movies of all time is Top Gun. Maybe it’s the soundtrack, or the final bro hug between Maverick and Iceman. Or maybe, it’s because if you’ve ever seen me run, you know I definitely have a “need for speed.” But, I absolutely love the movie. Sure, Top Gun is a little cliché, but for an action movie from the 80s, it stands the test of time.
If you’ve seen the movie, you’re probably reeling off some of the iconic scenes in your head:
- The volleyball game
- The flying scenes
- Goose’s tragic death accompanied by the most depressing music ever
- And of course, the “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” scene.
But for me, there’s always been one scene from Top Gun that stands out, one scene that sends chills up and down my spine every time I see it.
Let’s set the stage. Maverick is still dealing with the death of his friend and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) Goose. He blames himself and lacks confidence in his ability to fly. He’s even thought about quitting, but he doesn’t. And then, as he and his classmates graduate from Top Gun school, they find out about an enemy threat. This is no longer training. It’s for real. But Maverick still doesn’t have a RIO. That’s when Viper (one of his Top Gun instructors) steps in.
“Give me a call, I’ll fly with you.”
Think about this for a second. Viper could have told Maverick a variety of things in that situation. He could’ve said:
- “Maverick, you’ll get your RIO when you get to the ship.” (And just left it at that.)
- “Maverick, you’ll get your RIO when you get to the ship. Just make sure you get your confidence back.”
- “Maverick, you’ll get your RIO when you get to the ship. You can do it. I believe in you.”
Those all would’ve been fine things to say. But Viper goes one step further. He offers to fly with Maverick, to put himself in danger, to lay down his own life all to show Maverick he has his back.
That’s a true leader.
What if we displayed that sort of leadership in real life? What if we didn’t simply tell people we had their backs? What if we showed them?
Let’s say you’re someone’s boss at work. Your employee comes in on a Monday morning a little shaken up. She tells you that one of her aunts passed away unexpectedly on the weekend.
You could say: “I’m so sorry to hear that. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” (That’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a common thing for people to say.)
Now imagine if you said: “I’m so sorry to hear that. Please take the next couple days off to clear your head. I’ll cover for you.”
Or what if a good friend of yours just lost his job as a writer. He’s wondering how he’s going to support his family while he looks for a new one.
You could say: “I’m so sorry to hear that. You’re talented. I’m sure you’ll find something fast, but I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for anything.”
Now imagine if you said: “I’m so sorry to hear that. But I happen to know someone who could use a freelance writer. It’s not full time, but perhaps it could ensure you have some income while you search for another job.” (By the way, a few friends had my back in this way.)
Or what if one of your neighbors just had a baby. She doesn’t have any family members who live close by, and her husband is back at work after his week of paternity leave.
You could say: “Congratulations! She’s beautiful! Babies are so fun, but enjoy every minute. It goes by fast.”
Now imagine if you said: “Congratulations! She’s beautiful! I brought you Chick-fil-A for lunch and was thinking that I could clean your house while you sit and enjoy some snuggles with that sweet girl.” (My wife taught me about this level of generosity.)
You see, you don’t need a title to be a leader. And you don’t need to be a pilot (or a RIO) to tell someone, “I’ll fly with you.” You just need to look beyond yourself and lay down your own life for the sake of another. Because no matter how good you are, at some point you will crash and burn. Or, at the very least, you’ll need someone’s help. And it’ll be nice to know you have someone who’s willing to be your wingman anytime.
Question: What’s one lesson you’ve learned about leadership? (Bonus points if it came from Top Gun.)
