Why I Still Look to The LEGO Movie for Leadership Wisdom

A daily reminder of what real leadership looks like

I keep two LEGO figures on my desk.

One is furious. Rigid. Power-hungry. Dressed in a suit, red tie, and a look of permanent frustration. The other is cheerful. Bright orange high-vis. Red hard hat. A smiling face full of optimism.

They’re not just toys. They’re reminders. Totems. Symbols of what leadership is, and what it can become.

These two are from The LEGO Movie:

• Lord Business: obsessed with control, order, and perfection

• Emmet: underestimated, collaborative, full of quiet possibility

They represent two very different approaches to leadership. And they capture something I see in almost every growing business.

Here’s what they remind me of:

1. Power vs. Influence

Lord Business is all about power. He relies on status, structure, and enforcement. He holds authority tightly and expects others to fall in line. Emmet leads through influence. He listens. He invites others in. He earns trust by being open, kind, and real.

Power can control. But it rarely inspires. Influence, on the other hand, multiplies.

Meraki lesson: Leadership isn't about control. It's about creating the conditions for others to do their best work. The most powerful people in the room are often the ones building trust, not demanding compliance.

2. Systems vs. Souls

Lord Business wants systems that don’t bend. Predictability matters more than people. If it can’t be measured, it doesn’t matter. Emmet leads with heart. He notices what’s needed. He connects. He values belonging as much as results.

You can feel the difference. One dehumanises. The other creates momentum.

Meraki lesson: Culture is not a side project. It is the system. If people aren’t thriving, neither is the business. Most people problems aren’t personal. They’re structural or relational. When the culture works, the business flows.

3. Ordinary Brilliance

Emmet starts as “just a regular guy”. He doesn’t think he’s special. But he becomes extraordinary because of his mindset. He’s curious. Open. Willing to try. He believes in people. And eventually, people believe in him.

Lord Business represents the myth of the hero CEO. The lone visionary. The perfectionist leader who makes all the calls.

Meraki lesson: Real leadership isn’t about being exceptional. It’s about helping others realise they are. Some of the strongest leaders in a business don’t have titles. But they’re the ones others naturally follow.

4. Creativity vs. Perfection

LEGO was made to be built, broken, and rebuilt. But Lord Business wants everything glued into place. He sees certainty as safety. Perfection as the goal. Emmet trusts the mess. He builds without knowing exactly where it will go. He experiments. He adapts. And that’s where the magic is.

Meraki lesson: Most growing businesses hit a point where control starts to kill creativity. But creativity is what made them great in the first place. Growth always requires some ungluing. Letting go of perfection is often what makes space for progress.

Why this matters to me

You don’t have to be loud or forceful to lead. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just need to see what’s possible, and be willing to build towards it.

These Lego figures aren’t just a nostalgic nod to a kids' film. They are a daily reminder of the kind of leadership that lasts. The kind that feels human. The kind that scales. The kind that makes work better for everyone.

Not glue. Bricks. Not control. Trust. Not perfection. People.

That’s what I choose to build.