Snow White Deserves A Break

One of the greatest ways to rally and inspire a group of people are through mantras, but leaders need to be careful. When we get caught up in the positivity of a motivational saying, we often forget to allow space for other experiences which are also valid.  Because nothing is perfect, no?  And depending how these phrases are delivered, they can reek of toxic positivity when they don’t make space for anything other than perfection. 

Take the ever-poplar saying “Snow White Never Has A Bad Day”, one of the lessons used by Disney University and repeated countless times by leaders to embolden others to put their best foot forward. On the surface, it sounds great.   

I get it.  When facing adversity, the first thing as a leader you want to do is to boost them with a “You can do it“ attitude, and that is admirable.  We all need cheerleaders in our lives.  God knows I rely on others on the sideline when I need a boost.  Where this becomes problematic, however, is the demand for strict adherence to this utopian idea at all times. 

Sometimes, Snow White needs to be able to take off her make up backstage.  She needs to be able to express to her feelings and take her mask off.  Real leaders, they understand this — that their best and most valued team members can put on a spectacular show on stage, but need to know that behind the curtain, they are allowed to be human. They encourage those they lead to reach out.  And when someone is struggling and they extend a hand, a great leader will drop everything and reach down and lift them up. Not all life is theatre after all.