Leadership lessons can be found anywhere, even in the most unlikely of places. I began my discussion of Gilligan’s Island leadership in yesterday’s post. Today, I’ll continue by highlighting some of the attributes of one of the most memorable of the castaways, The Skipper.

The Skipper:  As the captain of the SS Minnow when the group set sail on the infamous 3-hour tour out of Honolulu, it would stand to reason The Skipper would emerge as the group’s leader. After all, the captain of any ship should serve as the ceremonial, positional leader of any team. Although circumstances at sea prevented The Skipper from returning the passengers safely back to port after the storm, he was able to save the group as they were washed up on a deserted, uncharted island.

Even the show’s theme song backs up the importance of that fact, stating “If not for the courage of the fearless crew, The Minnow would be lost.” In addition, the lyrics, “The Skipper brave and sure,” remind us that the captain is in fact, a WOW leader in many ways.

The Skipper, although not always taken seriously, tries to lead and keep the group safe. It’s apparent that he not only feels a sense of duty as the captain, but he has a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of the others. Early in the first season (Season 1, Episode 2: Home Sweet Home), he states, “We’ve got to function as a group.”

But while The Skipper’s WOW qualities include humility, caring, vision, compassion, and trustworthiness, he lacks an authoritative presence and voice. Before The Skipper can convince the group to plan a strategy, the castaways set out to build their own huts, which can’t stand up to even a moderate storm. The Skipper pushes for the positional leadership he possessed on the SS Minnow on the deserted island, but fails to persuade the others of the importance of a singular, strong shelter rather than numerous weaker, individual dwellings.

Perhaps the most impressive WOW trait the Skipper demonstrates is his ability to remain positive, even under the most dire circumstances. We’re often told about the benefits of a positive attitude, but the concept is often swept under the rug of negativism because it  seems too simple to be a key leadership ability.

The Skipper’s positive attitude and quirky smile gives him the amazing ability to keep a desperate situation from reaching paralysis. Imagine how different the show would be if he was portrayed as a depressed, angry, or cynical leader who constantly reminded everyone how bad they had it and how they might never see civilization again.

Beyond his overall positive demeanor and attitude, the Skipper displays positivity through his actions: every time there’s a remote possibility of devising a solution to get off the island, he excitedly gets behind the opportunity. He doesn’t give up; and he doesn’t shoot down or belittle the suggestions and schemes from the team of islanders.

While on the surface, a positive, encouraging outlook may seem like a trivial or insignificant attribute, but in the business world, it can make all the difference in the world. Being a successful leader often means encouraging and backing up your team, and continuing to push the boundaries to try new methods for achieving your goals. The WOWs among us, like the Skipper, keep trying, despite setbacks or failures, until they get it right.

Tomorrow, I’ll continue my analysis of the characters, this time by looking at the show’s namesake, Gilligan himself.