Security: People trade their loyalty for security.
3 min read5 sectionsSituationLink to the law
Contents
“Inside Out 2” is an animated film by Pixar, directed by Kelsey Mann. It opened in German cinemas on June 13, 2024 and grossed around 1.7 billion US dollars worldwide. The film is set inside the head of 13-year-old Riley, whose emotions stand as characters at a control console. With puberty, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear are joined by Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment. The film shows both sides of the Law of Empowerment: only secure leaders give power away.
Nine dots along a curved console are all linked to a golden core above – like the emotions sharing the controls in “Inside Out 2”.
01
Joy sorts things out
Situation
Joy has built a mechanism that flings bad memories into the farthest corner of Riley’s mind. Riley’s Sense of Self is supposed to consist only of good memories. Joy decides what is allowed to belong.
Link to the law
Well-meant control is still control. Whoever decides alone what is allowed to count takes away other people’s voice. Leaders should check which uncomfortable information they routinely sort out.
02
Anxiety takes over the console
Situation
On the night before an ice hockey camp, the puberty alarm goes off. Anxiety wants to secure Riley a place on the team and a connection with the older players around Val Ortiz. She flings the Sense of Self away, locks up the five old emotions and banishes them.
Link to the law
Leading out of fear often begins with good intentions. But whoever shuts out everyone who thinks differently loses every corrective. Anxiety is the negative example here: she trusts nobody but herself.
03
One-person rule tips over
Situation
Riley drifts away from her friends Bree and Grace. Under Anxiety’s direction, a new Sense of Self forms out of self-doubt and inferiority. In the tryout game, Riley plays badly, collides with Grace and has a panic attack in the penalty box.
Link to the law
Control without a counterweight often produces exactly the result it is meant to prevent. A team under constant pressure loses its judgment. A lack of inner security shows in a leader steering ever more tightly.
04
Letting go on both sides
Situation
Joy returns to Headquarters. She convinces Anxiety that Riley does not have to change in order to have a good future. Anxiety releases the console. Joy, too, realizes that she must not determine who Riley is.
Link to the law
Empowerment presupposes the Quality of Security. Joy has to bear the fact that the result turns out differently than planned. Leaders only truly give room once they no longer dictate the result.
05
Nine at the console
Situation
A new Sense of Self forms out of good and bad memories. Riley calms down and reconciles with Bree and Grace. In the end, all nine emotions work together, Anxiety included.
Link to the law
Empowerment does not mean getting rid of the difficult ones. The cautious voice gets its place too, just not the whole console. Good leadership clarifies roles so that every strength comes into play.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
01
Check which uncomfortable voices you habitually sort out.
02
Watch whether you are steering ever more tightly out of fear.
03
Do not shut anyone out just because they think differently from you.
04
Give room, even if the result turns out differently from your plan.
05
Give the cautious voice a place, but not the wheel.
Summary
The film shows two ways of holding on to control: out of optimism and out of fear. Both harm Riley until Joy and Anxiety release the console. Only then does a Sense of Self form that can carry all her experiences. Empowerment succeeds when a leader is secure enough not to decide everything herself.
