They have their detractors, but film and literature's most infamous villains also have their devotees their minions, henchmen, goons, toadies, and lackeys. Hey, just because they're horrible, despicable fiends doesn't mean they have no redeeming qualities.
Here's our Top 10 list of the worst villains' best leadership traits.
10. Victor Frankenstein Fire, Good
Despite having plenty of brains, Victor takes some wrong turns: grave robbing and assembling a creature out of human body parts comes immediately to mind. He does, however, have a particular brilliance for taking on the status quo and chasing the impossible. Hes the type of guy who will grab a shovel, jump in, and make it happen, even when the village naysayers say it can't be done. Boundless energy and a burning mad passion can juice up any grim, lifeless endeavor.
9. HAL 9000 No Drama Performa
For the sentient on-board computer of the spaceship Discovery, keeping his red eye on the ball means achieving his programmed directives, even if he has to pull the plug on the ships human astronauts to do it. He may not be brimming with charisma, but HAL has an unflappable calmness in the face of crisis that most leaders would kill for. He never overheats, never shouts or stomps or pounds the desk. Prod and poke as you might, you won't jar loose the pod bay doors to his temper.
8. Lord Voldemort A Resssilient Rotter
Warts on a hog aren't as nasty as this Dark Lord. Harry Potters archenemy is so vile people refer to him as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. One name we might use is: Comeback Kid. Voldemort manages to slither back from the brink of nonexistence after failing to kill Harry as a baby; and while many of us might give up after such a catastrophic setbackand his numerous subsequent setbacks through seven booksYou-Know-Who is determined to find his feet again and regain that old magic (until hes finally destroyed sort of).
7. Professor Moriarty The Adventure of the Quiet Logician
Moriarty was a math genius before he was a criminal genius. He calculates his criminal moves with the skill of a chess master, leading a network of thieves, thugs, and murderers that hold Victorian England in an odious grip. Even though this Napoleon of Crime tests the full powers of Scotland Yard and Sherlock Holmes, he manages to keep a remarkably low profile, staying securely behind the curtain. Leaders who take every opportunity to shine the spotlight on themselves might learn a valuable lesson from the Professor: success often comes more from subtle, focused support of our people behind the scenes than from trumpeting our own personal illustriousness.
6. The Terminator Tenacious T
The guys a machine! Relentless. His competitors worst nightmare. While they get distracted by other things (like eating and sleeping), hes moving, grinding, pursuing his mission. Nothing gets in his way for long. He absolutely will not stop until he gets what he came for.
5. The Wicked Witch of the West Green, Mean and Fabulous
What legitimate court in the land (of Oz) would rule that Dorothy has a right to those ruby slippers? They should go to the next of kin, not to the person who dropped a house on the deceased. What a world! Even if she is evil, the WWW has every right to chase down that little goody two-shoes and her little dog too. It isn't that shes jealous of Dorothys beauty. She isn't covetous of Dorothys innocence. She isn't green all over with any sort of envy. The WWW wouldnt give two hoots what the mirror on the wall says. She knows who she is. She loves who she is. And she revels in her beautiful wickedness. Theres something to be said for that sort of enjoyment of being of YOU .
4. Count Dracula Vlad The Compeller
You want to drink my blood and turn me into the living dead? How enthralling! Only Dracula has that kind of seductive pull. The tux, the cape, the title, the accent, the night moves no garlic breath. We could all use a splattering of that mesmerizing power, and here are three basics from the Counts playbook to get us started. Step 1: Get invited in (youre powerless otherwise). Step 2: Look into their eyes (theyre the window to the soul assuming you have one). Step 3: Transform them (infuse some new blood; change their state of being; fly them to the moon).
3. The Joker Smilin Jo
A little batty, maybe but the Joker knows the value of playful work. No task is so mundane, so onerous, that you can't put some joy and whimsy into it. Of course, to make it all a zany joke would be laughable, and the Jokers too crafty for that. Still, he never takes himself or his work too serious. Whether hes emptying a bank, menacing a throat, or poisoning a city, he finds creative ways to inject some fun. Ha ha ha ha. (Sorry.)
2. Darth Vader An Imperial Force
He wipes out a classroom full of junior Jedi and helps blow up an entire planet. Thats hard to beat in the villainy department. But he also jettisons his dark mask in the end, so we give him the number two spot on our list. As a leader, Vader rules with an iron (cyborg) grip: bullying, torturing, and terminating without blinking (that we can see). On the brighter side, no one in the galaxy commands a room like he does, just by standing in it. He has a certain je ne sais quoi a presence we haven't felt since
1. Hannibal Lecter The Curious Epicurean
No one cares, you say? No one listens? Your boss, your family, your friends even your shrink? You should meet Hannibal. Hes really easy to talk to sincerely interested and inquisitive. And so perceptive. No one will lend you an ear like he does. He really probes gets to the meat of things. Maybe just set up a lunch meeting. Pull up a chair, pour a nice chianti, and tell him whats eating you.
Dave Neal has helped develop thousands of employees and managers in organizations around the world for over 15 years. He is a senior partner at 4th Street Training. Web: www.4thstreettraining.com. Email: dave@4thstreettraining.com.
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