Jumanji: The Next Level is the 4th movie in the Jumanji series. The first movie in the Jumanji series was the Robin Williams Jumanji. It was followed by the sequel Zathura: A Space Adventure. Then, the board game mysteriously became a video game with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Now, we have The Next Level.
Was there really a need for another Jumanji movie? No… I don’t think there was. Is Jumanji: The Next Level enjoyable? Yes… it was.
Jumanji: The Next Level sees the cast of Welcome To The Jungle return to the world of Jumanji along with two new characters, Eddie (Danny DeVito) and Milo (Danny Glover). The returning cast were Martha (Morgan Turner), Spencer (Alex Wolf), Bethany (Madison Iseman), and Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain). There was also Alex (Colin Hanks) returning.
This time around, Jumanji brought the team to a new level. They left the jungle and entered the desert and a snow-covered mountain. Things were changing.
Today, we’re going to check out the Reel Leadership lessons in Jumanji: The Next Level. The movie was packed full of leadership lessons and you will definitely be able to step up your leadership game by looking for these leadership lessons.
Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Jumanji: The Next Level
1. Leadership isn’t always exciting:
Bethany was enjoying time in Costa Rica when the rest of the gang decided to get back together in their hometown. Their hometown was snowy and cold. Costa Rica was a paradise.
Yet Bethany chose to leave the exciting, beautiful area of Costa Rica to go to where her friends were. She chose to leave something amazing for something that seemed less than amazing.
Her choice wasn’t really to go back to something less exciting. Her choice brought her back to what really mattered.
Your leadership journey will lead you to amazing places. You may get the opportunity to travel the world or go to fantastic places within the United States. Your leadership journey may seem exciting and cool. Then something may change. You may get the call that you need to stay near family or you have to move to the middle of nowhere.
This may seem like you’re moving to something less exciting. Be cautious in thinking this way. The less exciting place you are going to may be just where you need to be.
2. Milo:
Man knew his craft…
Milo was reminiscing about their restaurant and one of the men who worked there. This man was Morris. He was a dishwasher.
While he may have only been a dishwasher, he knew his craft. He would wash the dishes in a particular way and to perfection.
Morris was an amazing team member. He knew his craft.
Look for people who know their craft. These people will be those who are excited to work on a project and put their own spin on it.
They will work extremely hard because they are passionate about what they’re doing. They don’t see their work as work. What they see is craftwork.
3. Leaders help when needed:
Martha figured out Spencer had re-entered the video game world of Jumanji. She was concerned. She also knew Spencer wouldn’t be able to escape without help from the rest of the team.
They chose to go into the dangerous world of Jumanji. They chose to go in and help.
Great leaders know leadership isn’t about barking orders and getting people to do things the way you want them to be done. Great leaders know there’s a time and a place for that kind of leadership. And it’s infrequent.
Rather, they know leadership is about helping their team succeed when they need intercession. They see where their help is needed and then they begin to guide their team members to success.
Don’t be a leader who jumps in the moment something goes wrong. Be the leader who jumps in when their help is needed.
4. Fridge:
What?!? We haven’t even picked our guys yet!
Fridge was shocked when the game started up and they were sucked in. They didn’t have a chance to pick their characters like they did in Welcome To The Jungle. This time around the game picked their characters.
This was a major change. They weren’t the same characters they were before. They had new abilities to figure out.
I saw this exclamation as a fit for leaders who are thrown into the position of a leader. They didn’t get to choose what role they were going to fill. They were chosen for it.
If this is you, don’t freak out. You can succeed by being chosen. Someone saw the leadership potential within you and they placed you in a seat of responsibility. Take the seat, lead well.
5. Martha:
We’ve got to keep it together.
Fridge was freaking out. He didn’t get to choose his character. Instead of being placed in the body of Kevin Hart, he was placed into the body of Jack Black. This didn’t sit well with Fridge.
Martha, who was placed into her old video game body (Karen Gillan), tried to calm Fridge. She knew freaking out would do no good. They needed to stay calm.
Leaders are like Martha. They see the danger and urgency in a situation. They don’t freak out, though. Instead, they choose to stay calm and help those around them get through the challenge.
Be that leader. Be the leader who stays calm and helps those they lead to get through the challenging times.
6. Speak quickly:
Milo was placed into the character of Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart). One of his strengths was Zoology. He was an expert in animals and their behaviors.
When they would encounter a new creature, Milo would tell the team about the animal. The problem was Milo took a long time to explain the creatures and what they were capable of doing. His verboseness caused his teammates to be injured or killed. Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne The Rock Johnson) was killed by an ostrich because Milo took too long to get to the fact about ostriches responding poorly to aggression.
Many leaders think they have to be verbose when they speak to others. They may believe they have to explain the situation in full. Leaders don’t have to do this. They can be brief and quick in the information they disseminate. They can speak quickly and help their team get back to work.
Being verbose can hold up your team. They can struggle to get work done because you never shut up. Learn to speak quickly. Give them the information they need when they need it.
7. Great leaders see a way:
Eddie had picked up the team on a dune buggy after they were attacked by ostriches. He saw an opportunity to get away from the flightless birds.
There was a chasm in front of them. If he drove the dune buggy over the jump and landed on the other side, the ostriches wouldn’t be able to follow.
The others didn’t see this possibility. Eddie did. Eddie took the opportunity and he got the team to safety.
Great leaders see a way when others see no possible way. They are able to see possibilities where others see none.
Look for creative ways to succeed or get the job done. This is the job of a leader.
8. Spencer:
I wanted to feel that way again.
In Welcome To The Jungle, Spencer played Dr. Smolder Bravestone. He felt powerful as this character. He also felt important.
This is the reason he re-entered the world of Jumanji. He wanted to feel that way again.
His desire to be powerful, important, and feel good led him into trouble. Worse, his desire led others to enter into a dangerous situation.
I think we all have a desire to feel important and valuable deep. This desire is what drives many of us to become a leader. We see leadership as a way to contribute and be valued.
We have to be careful entering into leadership because of this desire. This desire can lead us into dangerous territories. We can choose to do things that will advance our kingdoms and not the right kingdom.
9. Find your zone of genius:
Eddie found his zone of genius. One of his strengths was fighting. And fighting he could do.
While his other teammates were trying to get camels, he was put into a situation where he had to fight. He was able to use his talents to fend off scores of attackers. You could see him flow and move with ease.
Fighting was a zone of genius for Eddie’s character. He was able to move effortlessly and have a major impact because of his genius.
Where are you a genius? What can you do that no one else can do?
Find this zone of genius. When you find it, you will discover everything becomes easier (not necessarily easy).
Move into your zone of genius. Live there when you can.
10. Milo:
You explore your interests.
Milo and Eddie had a falling out. Milo sold their restaurant to travel with his love. Eddie was angry with Milo because of this.
However, Milo did this because he wanted to travel and explore his interests. He couldn’t do this with the restaurant. He could only do this with the freedom of a new position.
You can use your leadership position to explore your interests. You can discover what you like to do and what you don’t.
As you discover your areas of interest, you can help others discover theirs. You do this by finding your area of interest, your zone of genius, and then finding people who can fill in the areas you aren’t passionate about.
There are people who will love to do what you cannot. Find them. They will help you explore your interests while they’re able to explore theirs.
11. You need to stop killing your team members:
Eddie killed Milo with his brute strength. Milo wasn’t his first in-game kill. There were others.
Fridge told Eddie he needs to stop killing everybody. Eddie’s disregard for others caused them to lose valuable lives within the game. If a player lost enough lives, they would die in real life.
Leaders can be a lot like Eddie. They throw their weight around, they say cruel things, and they hurt others. Leaders can destroy those they lead if they’re not careful.
Make sure you’re not killing those you lead. You can’t run them over and kick them around. That’s not how leadership is done. It’s also how you wind up with no team at all.
12. Fridge:
Maybe this character isn’t worthless after all.
Fridge thought his character was worthless. Fridge’s character didn’t have a lot of great strengths. I mean, come on, one of the strengths was geometry.
Yet, Fridge’s strength of geometry came in handy when the team came upon a bunch of rope bridges. Fridge was able to see the geometric pathway they could take to safety.
Be careful how you view the people on your team. You may see their strengths as worthless when they’re not.
Everyone has unique strengths. Their strengths may not come into play until a critical time.
Be encouraging of the strengths your team brings to the table. Don’t discount their strengths. Be a leader who nurtures the strengths of those you lead.
13. Alex:
Hey! We can do this. This team can do anything.
Alex had faith in the great team in the Jumanji game. He had seen what they could do and he believed in them.
Alex’s faith brought the team together. His encouragement gave them the belief they could get through the last level of Jumanji.
Your belief in your team will help them power through situations they may not think they’re equipped to handle. The encouragement of a leader goes a long way.
You can either empower your team or you can tear them down. Your words and your actions toward your team will be the deciding factor on how they react.
Be a leader who encourages your team toward success.
14. Martha:
When you’re scared and insecure, that’s when you need your people the most.
Spencer had broken up with Martha because he was insecure and scared. He saw the life she was living and believed he couldn’t live up to it.
Because of his insecurity, he chose to push people away. He chose the wrong path.
You may feel insecure or scared while leading. These feelings are normal. Leaders are secured and insecure all of the time.
What you cannot do is allow your fear or insecurity to push others away. When you feel scared or insecure, that’s the time to call on your team. Your team won’t laugh at you or think less of you. Rather, your team will see you as one of them. They will see you as someone they can assist.
Call on your team in your time of need. They will be there for you.
15. Eddie:
Getting old is a gift. I forget that sometimes.
Eddie was always complaining about getting old. His body didn’t work the same way. His friends moved on. And he felt alone.
After his time in Jumanji, Eddie came out with a new perspective. Getting old wasn’t so bad. Getting old could be seen as a gift.
The sad fact of this world is that we all get old. We age and our bodies and minds change. We can see this like Eddie did at the beginning of Jumanji or we can see getting old as Eddie did at the end of Jumanji.
Getting old doesn’t have to be a curse. Getting old can be a gift.
You will have more experience and wisdom than you did when you were younger. You can contribute more to those around you.
See getting old as a gift.
Question: If you’ve watched Jumanji: The Next Level, what leadership lessons did you take away from the movie? If you haven’t seen the movie, what Reel Leadership lessons from Jumanji: The Next Level that I shared resonated with you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.