Flik

Overview of Character Role 

We first meet Flik as the inventor much un liked by the others, or the plant, according to the team roles of (Belbin 1981)cited in (Select Knowledge 2000). We see Flik devise idea after idea, often with his “own orthodox” (Select Knowledge 2000, 32). He often gets things very wrong, knocking over Princess Atta. In the Film he says “This is my new idea for harvesting grain”- as he knocks into Atta making her fall over. It was Dot who first believed in his ideas, as he quoted to Dot “Really well you’re the first to like my inventions”. He sees potential in Dot as a young member of the team, he uses the analogy “Everything that made this giant tree is already in that little seed” to help Dot understand that one day she will be as big and powerful as her sister Atta. Flik no longer wants the grasshoppers to take all the food, so decides it is time that the ants stop giving food to them. Flik goes off to find other insects to help the Ants stand up to the grasshoppers, he finds a circus act. He tricks them into thinking they are being hired for a circus, and when they find out, they leave. Flik then comes up with a new idea and builds a bird made out of leaves to scare away the grass hoppers, which frightens Hopper who flies away, only to be eaten by a real bird.

Leadership Discussion

Flik, although often making foolish decisions, can be seen as quite a motivational leader. McClelland’s (1961) managerial needs theory best describes the actions of Flik. The theory argues that “managers possess three basic motivational needs- achievement, affiliation and power”. (Cooper 2008, 390). Management has, according to McClelland a need for achievement, and enjoy “personal responsibility, positively enjoy competition , let to set strive for and achieve difficult goals, like to take calculated risks, like immediate short term feedback on their performance and work hard until they attain excellence” (Cooper 2008, 391). Flik enjoys the personal responsibility of finding other bugs to help with the harvest, he also enjoys taking on the grasshoppers as he sees them as a threat to their survival and therefore competition in the insect world. He takes calculated risks by inventing a harvester, which doesn’t end up working, but this doesn’t deter Flik from trying again. He feels upset when no one apart from Dot gives him short term feedback, but  when his idea seems to gain approval of others he strives to achieve excellence.  The needs for affiliation or the “close relationship with others... “ and “having care and concern for the feelings of others” (cooper 2008:391) is shown by Flik in that he wants to have a close relationship with the Princess Atta. He clearly shows concerns for Dot’s feelings, when he teaches her that one day her wings will be as strong as Attas. Flik wanted to be in control and lead the proceess of making and launching the artificial bird. He showed how his need for power was illustrated by McClelland’s (1961) cited in (cooper 2008),who argued that managers had the need to be in “ power than the need to achieve or need to be liked”. (cooper 2008:392)