Lost: A Survival Guide to Leadership Theory Billie Sudbrack Sarah Trombley The problem and the solution. Perhaps some of the most reveal- ing aspects about leadership can be evidenced through the examina- tion of leaders facing extreme challenges. J. J. Abram’s television program, Lost, provides a compelling backdrop for the study of leadership during such times of trial. Each week millions of viewers tune in to watch the struggles of the passengers of the doomed Oceanic Air Flight 815.Confronted with the constant struggle for sur- vival in the context of bizarre occurrences, the passengers begin to demonstrate and reveal their leadership qualities and skills.This article analyzes five different leadership theories (trait, skills, path-goal, leader- member exchange, and team) using eight different characters from the television series to demonstrate leadership theory in practice. The article concludes with different teaching activities for facilitators to use when teaching various leadership theories and practices. Keywords: trait leadership theory; skills leadership theory; path-goal leadership theory; leader-member exchange theory; team leadership theory; television Take a minute to imagine that you are an airline passenger flying from Australia to the United States. Crossing over the Pacific Ocean, it is doubtful that you would be analyzing the leadership abilities of your fellow passen- gers. Now, imagine your airplane snapping into thirds—the tail, wing, and nose sections crashing miles apart on an isolated, uncharted island. At this point, your fellow passengers’ leadership abilities may become more impor- tant to you. In the ABC television show Lost (Abrams, 2004), this scenario became a reality for over 48 plane crash survivors. Their leaders’ abilities were critical in providing guidance (Katz & Kahn, 1978) as they encountered the numerous day-to-day tasks and challenges of living on the island. According to Napoleon Bonaparte (Famous-Quotes-And-Quotations, 2006, np), “A leader is a dealer in hope.” All of the leaders in Lost are true dealers in hope—hope for survival Advances in Developing Human Resources Vol. 9, No. 2 May 2007 251–268 DOI: 10.1177/1523422306298901 Copyright 2007 Sage Publications Downloaded from adh.sagepub.com by guest on June 7, 2016 252 Advances in Developing Human Resources May 2007 and hope for rescue. To create this hope, they engage in supportive, goal-achieving processes by influencing the survivors based on the situations’ circumstances while in pursuit of their ultimate goals (survival and rescue). According to Northouse (2004), “Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” (p. 3). This definition in combination with different leadership theories provides a leader with flexibility depending on the leader’s style, followers, and situation. This article analyzes five leadership theories (trait, skills, path-goal, leader- member exchange, and team) using eight characters (Jack, Locke, Sayid, Kate, Sun, Jin, Ana Lucia, and Eko) from Lost to demonstrate leadership theory in practice. The article concludes with a lesson plan for instructors to teach leadership theory using Lost episodes as the visual medium. Before discussing leadership theory in the television show Lost, it is necessary to introduce you to the show and its main characters. Synopsis: Lost On a beautiful day in Australia, passengers board Oceanic Air Flight 815 for what should be an uneventful trip over the Pacific Ocean. But midway through the flight, the tail of the plane is ripped off and the plane crashes on a large, remote island in the Pacific. Chaos and fear ensue. Passengers are dead, injured, and trapped in both the plane and under debris from the crash. As the survivors regroup, they hear a deafening animal roar from the interior of the jungle—they begin to fear that they are not alone on the island. To uncover its secrets, the survivors explore a portion of the enormous island’s steep mountains, dense jungle, and miles of beaches. The 48 wing- section survivors encounter genetically altered polar bears, a mysterious black monster, a group of kidnappers known as The Others, and a hatch that leads to an experimental bunker. Unbeknownst to these survivors, 23 tail-section sur- vivors are encountering the same challenges on the other side of the island at a far greater cost. When the two groups unite after 48 days, only four of the tail-section members remain. As viewers watch the survivors’ daily struggle for survival, they glimpse, through flashbacks, the characters’ lives before boarding Flight 815. The flash- backs provide insight to the survivors’ thought processes and actions. In addi- tion, they show the survivors’ interwoven lives, leaving viewers with the realization that the survivors are all connected by “six degrees of separation” (Kleinfeld, 2002, p. 61). Ironically, the survivors are unaware of most of these connections; their concern lies in the present and the abilities of their leaders. Eight of Lost’s leaders include Jack Sheppard, John Locke, Sayid Jarrah, Kate Austen, Sun Kwon, and Jin-Soo Kwon from the wing section of the plane and Ana Lucia Cortez and Mr. Eko from the tail section. Dr. Jack Sheppard (Jack), a spinal surgeon, brings integrity, foresight, and strategic and medical skills to the survivors. He is torn by his altruistic instinct Downloaded from adh.sagepub.com by guest on June 7, 2016 Sudbrack,Trombley / LOST 253 to help others and his difficult relationships with those he loves. However altruistic, Jack is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the health and safety of his group, including manipulation, torture, and confronting The Others. John Locke (Locke), a collections supervisor for a box manufacturing com- pany, has strong survival, hunting, tracking, and strategic planning skills. He is very influential in his words and actions and is driven by a deep faith that fate controls the lives of the survivors and that the island chose them for a purpose. As a past victim of deception, manipulation, and control, he surrounds himself in privacy and mystery to protect him from being victimized ever again. Sayid Jarrah (Sayid) is an international military professional whose employers have included the Iraqi Republican Guard, U.S. Armed Forces, Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. He is a very passionate man who listens to his heart and instincts, be it while torturing a traitor or in giving his heart and soul to a woman. Sayid’s military, interrogation, torture, electronic, and technological skills make him an ideal leader during critical situations on the island. Kate Austen (Kate) is a fugitive on the run for killing her abusive father. Independent, strong-minded, and not afraid of the unknown, Kate takes action while others are contemplating options. She is a master at adapting to quickly changing circumstances and influencing people. Kate’s mediation skills are critical in combating the survivors’ greatest weakness: the inability of three of their primary leaders (Jack, Locke, and Sayid) to agree upon anything. Sun Kwon (Sun), a housewife and member of the social elite from South Korea, appears to be a very passive, meek character; however, with time, her strong, persuasive, natural leadership style emerges. Sun is torn by a desire to live a life of independence and freedom and her love for her husband Jin-Soo Kwon. Sun’s ability to translate for her husband, her knowledge of herbal med- icine, and her social skills are invaluable as the survivors encounter challenges on the island. Jin-Soo Kwon (Jin) is an enforcer for Sun’s father, a powerful South Korean businessman who engages in blackmail, extortion, and murder to attain his goals. Raised a fisherman’s son, Jin brings ocean navigation, fishing, and sail- ing skills to the island. At first glance, he is very domineering and demanding; however, Jin is also a very caring, loyal individual whose skills and work ethic make him a very effective leader when the situation arises. Ana Lucia Cortez (Ana Lucia), an ex-police officer, is the unquestioned leader of the group of survivors from the tail section of the plane. She is out- spoken and distrustful and leads in a very militant style, providing information on a need-to-know-only basis. Ana Lucia’s police officer training provides her with experience in investigation, interrogation, and strategic planning. Mr. Eko (Eko), a member of Ana Lucia’s group, is a powerful Nigerian warlord who disguises himself as a priest to escape authorities. As a teenager, he saved his brother Yemi’s life by killing a man; as an adult, he inadvertently causes Yemi’s death during a drug run. Eko’s sheer power, tracking skills, and Downloaded from adh.sagepub.com by guest on June 7, 2016 254 Advances in Developing Human Resources May 2007 deep faith that people are saved (spiritually, emotionally, and physically) in different ways lends to his strength as a leader. Instead of seeing evil in a person’s actions, he seeks to understand purpose for the action and asks if the person is able to forgive himself. These eight characters’ strong leadership abilities are the key to saving the survivors from themselves and the dangers that lurk on the island. Through their actions, this article analyzes five leadership theories. These include two leader- focused (traits and skills), one situation-focused (path-goal), and two social dynamic–focused (leader-member exchange and team) leadership theories. Traits Approach to Leadership Theory Trait leadership theory explores the traits, qualities, and characteristics that an individual must have in order to be a great leader (Northouse, 2004). While researchers agree numerous traits are considered to be essential for an effective leader, Northouse (2004) identifies “intelligence, self-confidence, determina- tion, integrity, and sociability” (p.