Lately my family’s been watching – okay, binge-watching – the BBC series Sherlock. These brilliant retellings of the classic Conan Doyle tales are set in modern-day England. Every one grabs me, even though I already know the basic plot. Benedict Cumberbatch was born to play the socially inept but brilliant “consulting detective” Holmes. Martin Freeman, who plays Holmes’ friend and sidekick John Watson, is every bit as good as Cumberbatch. They are a much more entertaining duo here than when they played Bilbo and Smaug. Watching Holmes make incredible deductions from evidence nobody else even sees never gets old. His detective skills are second to none. His people skills? Not so much. Holmes is the epitome of the high performing but totally unapproachable leader. His favorite pastime is showing off his amazing powers of deduction. Unfortunately, Holmes often does this by embarrassing those closest to him, especially his best (only) friend John Watson. Many times Holmes seems oblivious to his rude and obnoxious behavior. But his reaction when he’s called on it – usually by his friend Watson – is the worst. He makes excuses for himself; dismisses the damage he’s done; blames the victim for being thin-skinned or unappreciative of his brilliant deductions; or worst of all, ignores that he’s done any damage at all. Two episodes in particular really emphasize this difference between Holmes and Watson. In one, The Reichenbach Fall (a gripping reimagining of Doyle’s Reichenbach Falls story) the Sleuth’s unapproachable behavior becomes his undoing. Holmes must solve the “final puzzle” set in play by his arch-nemesis and master criminal Jim Moriarty. I won’t spoil it for those who don’t know how it ends, but Moriarty sets the puzzle in motion by destroying his rival’s reputation. It’s easy. He just relies on the fact that everyone who works with Holmes, especially the police and the media, think he’s a conceited jerk. Contrast this with Watson, who spends most of his time repairing the damage caused by his best friend. John Watson is an approachable leader. He constantly asks Holmes to think about how he treats people and encourages him to use his immense talents to try to be more understanding. When Holmes commits some interpersonal mayhem Watson tries to coach him or at least show how his behavior is impacting his ability to be effective. This all comes to a head in the most recent episode I watched, The Sign of Three. Here Holmes is put to his ultimate test: giving the best man speech at John Watson’s wedding. During this speech Holmes not only cleverly deduces who in the audience has been stabbed without knowing it, but also lays out perfectly these differences between himself and Watson. In the speech Holmes manages to offend virtually everyone in the room. He notes, for example, that the bride always chooses ugly bridesmaids. He speculates that God was invented to provide employment for the family idiot. But then he says:
“The point I’m trying to make is that I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all-round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous, unaware of the beautiful, and uncomprehending in the face of the happy. So if I didn’t understand I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be anybody’s best friend. Certainly not the best friend of the bravest and kindest and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing. John, I am a ridiculous man redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship. But, as I’m apparently your best friend, I cannot congratulate you on your choice of companion. Actually, now I can. Mary, when I say you deserve this man, it is the highest compliment of which I am capable. John, you have endured war, and injury, and tragic loss so know this: today you sit between the woman you have made your wife and the man you have saved – in short, the two people who love you most in all this world. And I know I speak for Mary as well when I say we will never let you down, and we have a lifetime ahead to prove that.”
I wish I could report that John Watson’s approachability had finally worn off on his friend and that Holmes changed his ways. Unfortunately, that’s not in the cards (and an approachable Holmes isn’t nearly as fun to watch as the unapproachable one). But I do think there are important leadership lessons here. Lead by example. Don’t give up on others. Believe in the best versions of those you lead, and help them see that best version too. John Watson is a great example of an approachable leader. We can all learn from his example. And you don’t have to be the world’s greatest detective to deduce that. Hat tip to Ariane DeVere, who posted the transcript of the best man speech and loves Sherlock even more than I do.
