It’s time for another favourite of mine, 2001’s Training Day. I can say so many amazing things about this film; still, so many scenes and lines live rent-free in my mind. But when I view the movie with the Movie Business lens 23 years later, I see it in a new light.
Training Day is much more than an amazing crime thriller. It intricately explores the complexities of moral and ethical dilemmas through its lead characters, Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) and Officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke). Set in Los Angeles, we follow Alonzo of the narcotics enforcement department. The film uses many themes that resonate well beyond law enforcement, offering profound insights applicable to contemporary leadership, ethics, and integrity in the business realm. This analysis examines how the moral conflicts and character developments in ‘Training Day’ mirror challenges faced in business, making it a compelling study for anyone interested in leadership ethics.
Ethical Decision-Making Under Pressure
Denzel Washington absolutely nails the role of Alonzo Harris, which was rewarded with the Best Actor Academy Award that year. Alonzo is portrayed as a seasoned narcotics officer known for blurring the lines while on duty.
His philosophy, epitomised by the line, “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove,” shows us the edges of that line when making ethical decisions under intense pressure. This questionable approach reflects the daily dilemmas faced by countless business leaders. Do you make the right choice ethically or choose some beneficial short-term gain?
Training Day acts as a cautionary tale, showing us ** SPOILERS ** the eventual downfall of Alonzo due to making these ethically compromised decisions and the repercussions of valuing success over integrity.
Training Day encourages us to consider the long-term consequences of our decisions, emphasising that integrity in decision-making can define a leader’s legacy. This is entirely embodied by Jake.
The Importance of Integrity
Jake is naive and on his first day with the narcotics investigation division. He has entered a world he barely knows that is riddled with corruption and is entirely naive about it.
In the single day that the movie spans, we see Alonzo challenge and test his ethical boundaries and push him to his limits. Jake is committed to his principles, even when faced with life-threatening decisions, showing us the role of integrity in sustaining credibility and respect.
His experiences in the film are powerful examples of how sticking to your standards and ethics is essential, even when yielding to corruption or wrongdoing could be easier.
Jake’s commitment to his values, despite his trials and challenges, underscores the message that true strength in leadership derives from consistent ethical integrity, not just the outcomes achieved or the runs you’ve completed on the board.
Mentorship and Its Pitfalls
‘Training Day’ delves deeply into the complexities of mentorship through the relationship between Alonzo and Jake. While Alonzo initially appears to be the ideal mentor with a wealth of experience, we quickly find that to be far from the truth. We learn that he is not all he seems to be and is entirely self-serving and ready to sacrifice Jake to protect himself.
This mentor-mentee arrangement should have helped Jake excel and learn from one of the best. However, it evolves into a situation where Jake becomes a victim of Alonzo’s schemes where he aims to protect himself at all costs.
This serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty in business and with yourself and your mentor. It shows us the need for mentees to carefully qualify and seek mentors who genuinely prioritise their development and are willing to help. Jake didn’t have that choice to make as he was placed, but you can find the right person.
Power Dynamics in Leadership
The most memorable quote of the film, “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” we see Alonzo’s showboating and over-confidence exemplified. He believes he is untouchable, leading to his climactic downfall on the run.
His apparent arrogance is a warning about his ethics and how he views himself. If you saw someone acting like this in business, you would stay away. There are many successful people in the world, and many more that you haven’t heard of because they are not arrogant and boastful. This attitude undermines teams, culture, and objectives by continually pushing ethical boundaries.
As seen in this film and many others, abusing power is a slippery slope; the more you think you’re getting away with it, the greater the fall at the end of the road. Being humble and having integrity doesn’t make for an exciting movie, but it does make an exciting, long-lasting business. Just look at Alonzo and his actions.
Balancing Realism and Idealism
Training Day clearly shows us two sides of the coin: Alonzo’s morally grey methods and Jake’s loyalty to justice and his moral standards.
However, you need to have balance, and you can’t go all the way to one side or the other. You need to be a realist; sometimes, a little grey helps move you forward, but as long as you stick to your standards and align decisions to the culture of your business, you will be on the right path. Unless the culture is what Alonzo shows us throughout the film with his team.
Businesses often face this problem where they prioritise their ethics of dollars, which can compromise their business survival. Sometimes, you will need to make decisions that are not 100% aligned to your standards but to stay alive. Leaders need to maintain their ethical standards and business culture while being successful.
Conclusion
As we have seen repeatedly through these Movie Business articles, we can take away something far greater when we view them through another lens.
Training Day not only provides one of the best performances through Denzel’s Alonzo but highlights the pitfalls of living in the morally grey and prioritising oneself over maintaining ethics and culture. The movie highlights the downside of this behaviour in leadership and the impact those decisions make on your career.
