In the Star Wars universe, we’ve seen plenty of C-level characters rise to prominence. Take for example the Ewok leader Logray or even Nien Nunb, who is an astromech technician. While these characters may not be the focus of any given movie or TV show, they often uncover something hidden within the plot that helps move it forward. This same principle can be applied to your company’s C-suite executives as well. Even though they might not be as popular as other Star Wars characters (like Darth Vader), they also have a lot to offer in terms of guiding the company’s strategic vision and growth. In today’s blog post, we’ll take a closer look at Kit Fisto and Sio Bibble from the Star Wars franchise to unearth some hidden insights about what makes a C-suite executive successful in their organization.
Learn to Lead from a Trusted Advisor
Whether a company is growing or in a state of decline, a trusted advisor can help executives see the path forward and make better decisions. When it comes to Kit Fisto, he exemplifies this role. In pre-Rogue One and pre-Clone Wars content, we know that Kit is a trusted advisor to the Jedi Council and was even a mentor to Anakin Skywalker. He is said to have been a great warrior during the Battle of Geonosis, one of the major battles in the Clone Wars. One of the best ways that C-level executives can lead the company is by being a trusted advisor. This can be done by sharing your insights and expertise with your team while also listening to their ideas and thoughts on how to move forward.
Develop an Ear for Learning
A great leader is always learning and growing while also encouraging their team to do the same. Sio Bibble is a prime example of this. Bibble is the senator of the Trandosian system, the homeworld of Jabba the Hutt. He’s also a loyal general who helped the Republic by sending his son, Greedo, to help out during the Battle of Naboo. As the battle progressed and Bibble was able to see how the Gungans were fighting for their planet, he started to shift away from his allegiance to the Republic and began working with the Trade Federation. While it’s easy to call this a betrayal, Bibble wasn’t being malicious. He was simply listening to the events and people around him and shifting his views accordingly. When you’re a C-level executive, you need someone who is open to learning from their team members and from their experiences. This type of open-mindedness is necessary in order to grow as a person and as a leader.
Establish Commitment from Employees
One of the best ways to ensure that your company’s vision is fulfilled and constant is to ensure that everyone is on board. Sio Bibble and Kit Fisto go a long way towards this by showing their commitment to the cause. One of the earliest indications of Fisto’s drive and dedication towards the cause is during the Battle of Geonosis. He was one of the few Jedi who decided to stay behind and continue fighting while the other Jedi and Republic forces evacuated. Bibble proves his commitment to the Trade Federation by staying behind to help Jabba the Hutt negotiate a deal with the Hutts of the Northern Graf. By staying behind, both Bibble and Fisto demonstrated that they believe in their cause and want to make sure that it succeeds. C-level executives can show their dedication by staying invested in their company’s success and helping their team members in any way possible.
Be a Risk Taker
No great company has ever been built on the foundation of playing it safe. Being a risk taker can mean a few different things, but one of them is taking risks from the outset. Bibble is a prime example of this. He knew that he had to help the Trade Federation in order to get out of debt. However, he also knew that the best way to do this was to help Jabba the Hutt negotiate a deal with the Hutts of the Northern Graf. Such a risky move could have easily come back to haunt him, but it didn’t. The Northern Hutts agreed to a deal with Jabba, and Bibble was able to help the Trade Federation get back on track.
Show that You Care About Employees
One of the best ways to show your employees that you care is to make sure that they’re happy. This includes making time to listen to employees’ opinions, concerns, and suggestions. Bibble does this in a few ways. First, he makes a concerted effort to negotiate a deal with Jabba the Hutt. This is important not just because it helps Bibble’s company, but it also shows that he cares about the people working under him. Similarly, when Bibble discovers that the people working for Jabba aren’t getting paid, he helps start a strike. This shows that he cares about not only the company’s employees but their wellbeing as well.
From the Bottom: Be Fully Engaged and Involved
Being fully involved in your company’s success doesn’t just mean making sure that your employees are happy. It also means that you’re fully engaged in the events and processes that go on within your organization. Bibble is a prime example of this. He may have been the senator of the Trandosian system, but he was fully engaged in the activities and events that went on under Jabba’s rule. This is something that every C-level executive should strive to do. You need to be engaged enough to know exactly what’s going on, but you also need to be flexible enough to allow yourself to be surprised by new events and information that could help move the company forward.
Wrap Up
We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we did writing it! While C-level executives may not be as popular as other Star Wars characters, they also have a lot to offer in terms of guiding the company’s strategic vision and growth. Whether a company is growing or in a state of decline, a trusted advisor can help executives see the path forward and make better decisions. Similarly, being open to learning and growing as an individual and leader is essential. You can also show that you care about your employees by making sure that they’re happy and fully involved in the events and processes that go on within your organization.
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