If you're a man of a certain age – and I am – your vision of women was transformed the first time you saw a British television series called The Avengers, starring Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel.
Emma Peel was an original. Unique. Brainy, gorgeously sexy in her leather catsuits, artistic in the pursuit of her hobbies. She was every bit as witty as her male partner, John Steed (played with suave good humor by Patrick Macnee). Most stunningly, she could outfight almost anyone and everyone on the show, frequently saving her male partner from his moments of distress. In the mid-60s, when the character debuted on black-and-white televisions in Britain and the United States, Diana Rigg's Mrs. Peel was a breakthrough character in every possible way.
With that in mind, here are Mrs. Peel's four leadership lessons:
Dress for success: Emma Peel wore whatever the job required, even a dominatrix outfit in one episode, but she always maintained a hip fashion sense. Whether fighting or flirting, Mrs. Peel was ready for whatever situation she faced. When you dress for success, it shows that you have an awareness of what you need to do, of what you need to project to others. A lawyer who shows up with artfully ripped blue jeans does not inspire confidence, anymore than a plumber in a Tom Ford suit does.
Stay cool: No matter how dire the situation, Mrs. Peel managed a clever remark, often a pun, and a smile. That kind of coolness under pressure is a fantastic leadership trait. If you don't seem anxious, it will help the people you're working with to deal with whatever ugly problem you're facing.
Be prepared: Although no one could have been farther from the ideal boy scout than Emma Peel (although she was many a boy scout's ideal), she obviously lived by the Boy Scout motto. No matter what life-or-death issue she faced – if it required fast driving, fast kicks, gunplay and/or logic, Mrs. Peel was ready, willing and able. Even though The Avengers never showed a young Mrs. Peel in school or training, she clearly had done her homework in a number of disciplines. She was prepared for any contingency. That thoroughness of preparation comes in very handy whenever you're launching a new project, service or product. Since contingencies always develop, you'd better be ready to do what's needed.
Innovate: Everything about Emma Peel was dazzlingly fresh. The way she looked, behaved and spoke. Her capabilities. Her wit. The ability and urge to innovate come from within – in my opinion they are not learned behaviors. Some people have the ability and the urge, some don't. If you do, get going. If you don't, find someone who is innovative and support them all the way (as John Steed did so capably for Mrs. Peel).
