What Hollywood Gets Right (and Wrong) About Building Stronger Teams

GLG Insights | Juliana Marques | June 10, 2025

Effective delegation is one of the most valuable skills a leader can develop. It’s not just about offloading tasks—it’s about building trust, empowering others, and creating a high-performing team. Leaders who master the art of delegation free up their time for strategic thinking while also fostering professional growth within their teams.

But what does good (or bad) delegation look like in action? Hollywood has given us plenty of examples, from inspiring leadership to catastrophic micromanagement. Let’s explore how effective delegation works, with insights from GLG’s professional development resources and lessons from the big screen.

The Power of Delegation in Leadership

Delegation isn’t just a way to lighten a leader’s workload—it’s a key driver of productivity, team development, and business success. Studies show that effective delegation leads to improved performance, higher job satisfaction, and increased innovation.

Great leaders know what to delegate, who to delegate to, and how to set their teams up for success. They focus on outcomes, not just tasks, and provide guidance while allowing their teams autonomy.

Let’s see some of these examples in Hollywood’s famous movies:

🎬 "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006)

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is an infamous example of bad delegation. She dumps impossible tasks on her assistants without clear expectations or support, leading to confusion and burnout. Effective delegation, by contrast, involves trust, empowerment, and communication, not setting people up for failure.

How to Delegate Effectively

1. Identify the Right Tasks to Delegate

Not every task should be delegated. Leaders must determine which responsibilities can be entrusted to others while they focus on strategy and high-impact decisions.

🎬 "Moneyball" (2011)

Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) delegates analytics to Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), trusting his expertise in using data to make strategic decisions. Instead of micromanaging, Beane relies on his team’s strengths—a hallmark of great leadership.

2. Delegate to the Right People

A great leader knows their team members’ strengths and assigns tasks accordingly. Matching skills with responsibilities boosts performance and motivation.

🎬 "Ocean’s Eleven" (2001)

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) puts together a crew of specialists—each member is assigned a role that fits their unique expertise. This is delegation done right: understanding who can handle what and trusting them to execute.

Tip: Assign tasks based on capability and growth potential. Delegating to someone less experienced? Make it a learning opportunity.

3. Set Clear Expectations

Delegation fails when the leader doesn’t communicate objectives, deadlines, and success criteria. Clarity ensures accountability.

🎬 "Apollo 13" (1995)

Faced with a near-catastrophic mission failure, NASA’s ground team assigns tasks with precise instructions and expectations. The team rallies to solve problems effectively because roles are clearly defined.

4. Trust, but Verify

Effective delegation isn’t about checking out—it’s about setting people up for success and providing support without micromanaging.

🎬 "Remember the Titans" (2000)

Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) assigns leadership roles to his players and holds them accountable. He doesn’t just hand off responsibility—he guides, motivates, and supports his team.

Tip: Establish check-in points to offer feedback without micromanaging.

5. Give Credit Where It’s Due

A true leader acknowledges the work of their team. Recognizing contributions boosts morale and encourages initiative.

🎬 "The Intern" (2015)

Jules (Anne Hathaway) initially struggles to delegate, fearing loss of control. As she learns to trust her team, she gives them ownership and recognition, which strengthens both her business and relationships.

Leveraging GLG’s Resources for Smarter Delegation

GLG offers professional insights and leadership strategies to help executives sharpen their delegation skills. From expert-led research to case studies, leaders can gain practical tools to apply in their organizations.

Great delegation isn’t about handing off work—it’s about building a stronger team. When done right, it leads to more innovation, efficiency, and growth, both for leaders and their teams.

As Hollywood teaches us, leadership is often about trust. Whether you’re leading a high-stakes mission like Apollo 13, an elite heist like the Ocean’s Eleven, or a championship team like the one in Remember the Titans, the ability to delegate effectively is what sets successful leaders apart.

How will you apply these lessons in your leadership journey? Share with us in the comments!