Leadership Lessons from El Zorro

When I was young, my dad and I watched re-runs of Walt Disney’s Zorro. Starring Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, and Henry Calvin, the series takes place in Spanish California during the 1820’s. Zorro, the masked alter ego of the wealthy Don Diego de la Vega, spends his life fighting for justice. The lessons I learned from watching Zorro have inspired me in various leadership roles throughout my career. While at times, the series portrays outdated gender roles and class structures common in that era, it contains some timeless and timely truths that can inform good leadership today.

Here are ten leadership lessons I learned from El Zorro. If you’re not familiar with the characters, I tried to write this in a way that would still convey valuable leadership principles. If you are familiar with the series, you may enjoy this all the more.

1. Leadership is ego-less. In the first episode, Diego’s father summons him back from studying in Spain because their pueblo is being ruled by a ruthless dictator who’s oppressing the people. Diego realizes that using direct force won’t work and that he needs a more strategic approach if he wants to be effective. Paraphrasing an Italian proverb, he says “when you cannot clothe yourself in the skin of a lion, put on that of the fox.” Diego creates his alter ego, El Zorro, “the fox.” For the plan to work, he must appear to be a passive book-obsessed scholar by day, so he can bravely ride as Zorro by night. This is not easy for Diego, especially when his father, a strong and stubborn man, thinks his son is a weak coward. During an intense exchange, Alejandro says to Diego, “I sent my only son away to military school hoping they would send me back a fighter, instead, I got a poet.” Later on he learns that his son is indeed Zorro. Yet, for quite some time, Alejandro openly expresses his disappointment in him. Despite this, Diego sets his ego aside so he can continue his important work as Zorro. Many times, leadership will require that we put aside our ego to do what’s best for the organization and for those we lead. It may mean pursuing what’s right, even at the expense of our own pride or receiving recognition.
2. Value and treat everyone well. To Zorro, every person counts. He defends and protects the persecuted regardless of their social status, and puts the lives of others above his own. While Bernardo is Diego’s servant, Diego treats him as his equal and his trusted confidant. Bernardo knows Diego is Zorro and displays great admiration for his heroic friend. And there are several times Zorro risks his own life to save Bernardo’s. Diego’s family is among the richest in all of California, yet he does not believe this places him above anyone else. When attending a party hosted by a wealthy landowner, the town’s magistrate refuses to greet one of the guests. He expresses his disdain to Diego that some at the party were not of more “noble” birth. Diego responds by saying that the real credit belongs to those who work hard and make something of themselves, not simply to the fortune of one’s ancestors. Good leaders consider the interests of others before their own. They value everyone regardless of title, position, salary, or background. And, they greet and treat everyone in their organization as important and valuable.
3. Always have good on your side. Zorro always fights with good on his side. He goes out of his way to keep the innocent safe and even looks out for the good-natured Sergeant Garcia, despite the Sergeant’s constant attempts to capture him to claim the reward money. Because Zorro fights for and protects the people, they are willing to come to his aid and often help him escape. Doing good brings its own rewards, many times in surprising ways. Good leadership is the byproduct of leaders being good people who make good decisions even when it’s not personally advantageous to do so. As leaders, if we are honest and genuinely look out for others, we may find that goodwill returns to us when we most need it.
4. When you see problems, fix them. Zorro sees the problems around him and takes action to fix them. As Diego sees through a crooked lawyer’s attempt to orchestrate a “fair” trial to wrongly convict and seize a man’s land, Diego argues that “justice is blind, she can be led around by anyone.” When Diego confronts a man who has mistreated an elderly peon, the man asks him, “what business is this of yours?” Diego responds, “why Senor, injustice is everyone’s business. No one can stand alone. When you injure one of us you injure all.” During each episode’s opening, the theme song plays as Zorro’s knife pins up a warning, “My sword is a flame, to right every wrong, so heed well my name.” He could have chosen a life of ease, enjoying the comforts of his lavish hacienda and not concerning himself with the suffering of the townspeople. Instead, he knows that mistreatment of anyone is a threat to everyone, and refuses to sit idly by while others unjustly suffer. As leaders, when we see things in our organizations that are not working well, we need to fix them. And, when we see people being treated unfairly, we need to speak up and make it right.
5. It’s never too late to correct a mistake. When Diego learns a woman he cares about is caught up in a corrupt plot to takeover California, he attempts to thwart the plan by altering a coded message cut into an eagle’s feather. Yet he soon realizes that by altering the message, he unintentionally signaled her death. While Diego acknowledges “she’s as guilty as the rest of them,” he tells Bernardo, “but, I cannot let her die” and later rides as Zorro to save her. As leaders, it’s never too late to own and correct our mistakes, even when they result from well-meaning actions.
6. Know when to ask for help. While Zorro is capable and strong, he knows when to ask for help. He relies heavily on Bernardo, to assist him in his work and to help protect his true identity. When a rogue group attempts to seize control of Los Angeles, Diego realizes the work is beyond what only Zorro can do, and enlists his father’s citizen army of landowners to help him win the fight. As leaders, knowing we don’t have to do everything alone is critical. We can surround ourselves with capable people, trust them to do their jobs well, and know when we need to ask for their help.
7. Of power, beware. When a military infiltrator known as “The Eagle” forcefully occupies Diego’s hacienda while plotting to takeover California, Diego learns this power-hungry man has a surprising weakness: he is afraid of being alone. Before devising a clever plan to drive him from the house, Diego tells Bernardo, “no man has such a mad desire for power unless he secretly knows that he is weak.” It’s not uncommon to be drawn in by the trappings of leadership. Power and authority can be alluring, especially when they fill personal voids we may not know we have. The larger the leadership role, the more vulnerable we become to hidden weaknesses. As leaders, it’s important we are self-aware and that we work to heal our own wounds and fears, so we are less susceptible to the trappings of power.
8. Give and keep your word. In the days of Zorro, your word was your bond. If you gave your word to do something, it was as good as done. In one episode, Diego says, “what if I give you my word?” and this is enough to secure the release of a woman being held in an attempt to find her fugitive boyfriend. Diego gives his word that he will find the man and convince him to surrender, and he does just that. In leadership, our words matter. People remember what we say and watch what we do, to see if these align. When we say we will do something, we must follow-through. Our word must be our bond.
9. Be generous in all things. When several hardworking rancheros are arrested for refusing to pay an unjust tax, Diego offers to pay it for them so they can be released. Upon finding a poor woman living in the mountains, Diego gives her all the money he has with him, what she calls “a fortune,” so she can buy food and supplies. As Zorro, he is even more selfless, risking his life to save those in danger. During a fight in the tavern, Zorro tosses his sword to help the commandante, whose own sword breaks in the middle of a duel. When the fight concludes, Zorro approaches him and says, “I believe you have my sword, commandante.” The officer smiles with gratitude and returns the sword. Both Diego and Zorro demonstrate selfless generosity. They don’t see their wealth, talents or abilities as their own, but rather as gifts to be used in the service of others. Leadership is the same way. Our gifts and talents are not ours to keep. They’ve been entrusted to us to be used to serve others and to do good work in the world.
10. Govern first, thyself. While California’s governor is recovering from an injury, he transfers acting power to a military captain serving as his aid. The captain is a young officer eager to advance, yet prone to emotional tirades and extreme anger. On several occasions, he loses his temper around the governor’s daughter, a lady he desperately wants to court, though she repeatedly rebuffs his advances. After several emotional outbursts, the governor relieves the captain of his duties, telling him, “of this I am sure, no man should be appointed to govern others, until he can first govern himself.” As I’ve observed and worked with different leaders in my career, I can say without hesitation that this principle rings true. Leadership is a privilege, not an entitlement. It should be earned, not given. We earn the privilege of leading and managing others by first learning to better manage ourselves, especially our emotions and behavior.

As I reflect back on the Zorro series, I realize that I watched it during the most impressionable time in life: my early childhood. These lessons have since shaped my view of the world, of justice, equality, and what it means to be a true hero, like Zorro. While I won’t be wearing a black cape, sword fighting, or climbing over rooftops, I hope to be the type of leader that Zorro was. His life was spent in service to others and working for the good. It was filled with purpose and meaning. And, he has given me purpose and meaning in my own leadership.