In this week’s episode of WonderTour, Brian Nutwell and Drew Paroz conclude the Villain Series with an in-depth look at the titular villain Sauron, focusing on his portrayal in The Rings of Power Seasons 1 and 2. 💡 How does Sauron masterfully leverage influence to achieve his ends? And what can leaders learn from his strategy—without succumbing to his darker tendencies?

Explore Sauron’s ability to:
✅ Forge deep, seemingly genuine connections with characters like Galadriel and Celebrimbor.
✅ Listen intently and align with others’ intrinsic motivations to achieve mutual (and selfish) goals.
✅ Leverage patience, adaptability, and a long-term vision to gain control without brute force.

From Galadriel’s pursuit of justice to Celebrimbor’s ambition to surpass his legendary lineage, Sauron subtly aligns his goals with theirs, only to twist their values and relationships toward his ultimate purpose. But what happens when leaders lose sight of the bigger picture?

💡 Key Takeaways for Leaders:

💡The power of understanding others' motivations.
💡The balance between aligning with your team and avoiding manipulation.
💡How to inspire passion and commitment through shared vision while staying true to magnanimous leadership principles.

✨ Stick around for an engaging discussion that ties Sauron’s tactics to real-world examples like SpaceX’s innovative approach to big-picture goals. 🚀

Are you wielding your leadership influence for good—or falling prey to Sauron-like tendencies?

🔗 Find us at www.wondertourpodcast.com or search “LeadWisely” on YouTube to join the journey.