Never Leave Your Wingman: 7 Leadership Lessons from Top Gun
The slow-motion opening sequence of 1986’s Top Gun shows a flight deck of F-18s prepping to launch off an aircraft carrier basked in the warm tones of the Indian Ocean sunrise. The scene builds in anticipation, underscored by Harold Faltermeyer’s electronic tones, leading to the launch of an F-18 to the film’s main theme by Kenny Loggins.
Yes, you’re in it — the danger zone.
The late Tony Scott’s 80s military action-adventure film follows hot-shot US Navy fighter pilot Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Crusie, as he navigates the historic flight school TOPGUN.
After 36 years, the film’s popularity hasn’t diminished, and pop culture moments from “I Feel Need for Speed” to the “Playing with the Boys” volleyball sequence are still referenced across military bases, dive bars, podcasts, and TikTok accounts. The lasting legacy of Top Gun, either by the fans who love it or the treasure-trove of memes from the movie, forced Tom Cruise’s hand to make a surprisingly universally acclaimed sequel titled Top Gun: Maverick.
But Top Gun is more than an action romp and standard in the Cruise filmography. It’s a story that provides enduring lessons on leadership, adversity, and teamwork. So in preparation for Maverick’s return to TOPGUN as an instructor, here are seven leadership lessons from the original that endeared audiences to never lose that loving feeling for Top Gun.
#1 First Choice Doesn’t Matter
Like many great Crusie flicks over the past four decades, the audience is thrown right into the action when Maverick and his navigator, Goose, are engaged with a band of MiG-28s (from an undisclosed enemy). Their colleague Cougar is spooked after a close call with a MiG, leaving the pilot paralyzed in the middle of combat. Maverick disobeys his orders to land and guides Cougar safely to the landing deck.
Cougar turns in his wings, leaving the commanding officer no choice but to invite Mav and Goose to the Naval Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar.
“I gotta do something here I still can’t believe it. I gotta give you your dream shot. I’m gonna send you up against the best. You two characters are going to TOPGUN.”
The heroes of Top Gun weren’t expecting to be in a leadership position, but they immediately said, “Yes, sir.” Like Mav and Goose, you may not be the first choice for a leadership opportunity, but they will come if you show up and do the work. You need to be ready to seize them.
#2 Fly Inverted
Top Gun is a bro-dominated story, but what it lacks in feminine screen time it makes up for with the tenacity of Kelly McGills’ performance as Charlie. The no-nonsense civilian instructor at TOPGUN serves as Maverick’s love interest and intellectual competitor.
While lecturing the foray of aviator-shrouded pilots, Maverick corrects Charlie about the data on the MiG. In a scene straight out of middle school, Maverick’s boyish boldness to argue with the instructor leads to cackles in the classroom.
“Well if you were directly above him, how could you see him?”
“Because I was inverted.”
Maverick describes the encounter with the MiG from the opening scene where he was “keeping up foreign relations.” Although the scene is playful, it sets up the context of Maverick’s flying in a room of the best of the best.
As a leader, the way you think is more valuable than your credentials. Historical data and organized processes keep businesses afloat–flying inverted make them stand out.
Like Mav, don’t be afraid to challenge the norm. Trust your experience and what you’ve seen. Your confidence to invert a system, problem, and product will make you stand out in a boardroom.
But unlike Maverick, stay away from presenting your inverted ideas in a nonchalant manner.
Confidence keeps, cockiness kills.
#3 Talk to Goose
Goose, played by the endearing Anthony Edwards, might be the most beloved character in cinema with only 60 minutes of screen time.
Why?
True to his family-man dedication to wife Carole, played by Meg Ryan in her breakout role, Goose is a perfect companion for Maverick as well. Goose has everything Maverick doesn’t–something the loose.
More Alfred than Robin to Batman, Goose is Mav’s moral compass and North Star. Without Goose, Maverick is lost. It’s not until he tosses Goose’s dog tags into the ocean that he can release himself from the loss of Goose.
Find your Goose. Without a navigator in life–spouse, partner, friend–you’ll live a life without a compass. As a leader, having a Goose will provide wisdom in moments of challenge and a guiding voice when you’ve pushed yourself too far.
Like Maverick, you can be the most talented person in your field, but without a Goose, you’re flying alone without someone to talk to you.
#4 Don’t Fly Against a Ghost
Following a hilarious but ill-advised fly-by, Goose, in a rare moment of honesty, reveals his fear of Maverick’s recklessness.
“It’s like every time that we go up there, you’re flying against a ghost.”
Maverick is flying to reclaim his father’s negative reputation and build his own legacy. His motivation produces results but leaves Maverick isolated and on the brink of losing everything.
Are you flying against a ghost?
Are you in leadership to prove someone wrong or to recompense a childhood trauma? An unhealthy “why” in your business, family, or organization will prove unsustainable. Just like Maverick, a purpose-built around proving something to somebody will force others away. Flying against a ghost will leave you isolated and unquenched.
Goose flies to provide for his family. Maverick flies for himself. Sooner or later as a leader, you’ll find yourself alone in the cockpit still haunted by the ghosts you chase.
#5 Engage with the Enemy
A trope throughout Top Gun is whether to engage or disengage in combat. It’s the risk that Maverick instinctually takes to a fault–even to the brink of causing his best friend’s death.
The full-circle moment of the movie is when Maverick faces the same dilemma as Cougar in the opening scene. Mav becomes paralyzed the first time he flies after the tragic death of Goose because he’s afraid to engage with the enemy.
As a leader, you must remember that ambiguity projects fear. So don’t avoid engagement, whether it’s a tough conversation, business decision, or opportunity to be vulnerable. Always engage when you know that your actions can make a difference for your people.
When Maverick engages to save his former school rival Iceman, played by Val Kilmer, we know that his actions will make a difference. Don’t ignore the call, enter a battle for your people.
“Coming in, Ice. I’m coming in.”
#6 Visit Viper, Open Your Door
After Goose’s death, Maverick gives up on TOPGUN and flying. In desperation, Mav visits the coastal home of Viper, to confront his haunted past and unknown future. Viper is the school’s main instructor and arguably the best pilot, but at this moment we see him in his domestic form on a Sunday afternoon with his family.
Why did Tony Scott decide to keep this scene in a blockbuster action movie? By 1980s editing standards, a slow dialogue exchange near the film’s climax is ripe for the cutting room floor. In a nod to screenwriters Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., Scott emphasizes this scene to help the audience see the change in the hero.
Mav’s humility coming before Viper is a dramatic turn from his naive arrogance when the audience first meets him. The scene also changes the view of the stoic and indomitable Viper.
In moments of despair, whether personal or in business, you need to approach a Viper-figure in your life. This could be an industry leader, an executive in your company, or a mentor. The importance of visiting a Viper is to humbly approach someone who’s been in your cockpit. You need to reach out to the people who’ve been through battles before and give you the perspective that it’s possible to fly again.
“A good pilot is compelled to evaluate what’s happened, so he can apply what he’s learned. Up there, we gotta push it. That’s our job. It’s your option, Lieutenant. All yours.”
Viper’s honesty encourages Maverick to graduate from TOPGUN and return to the air. As a leader, you also could be a Viper in someone’s life. Viper understands Mav’s skillset and the pain burdening his ability to fly. He shares stories of his failures and history with Mav’s father.
Open your door to the young Mavericks in your life. Your ability to speak truth from experience will motivate them to overcome challenges.
#7 Never Leave Your Wingman
We can’t talk about Top Gun without bringing up the essential theme of the film–never leaving your wingman.
Maverick’s entire character arc evolves from his initial self-reliant solo attitude to the film’s climax, when he rescues Iceman and defeats the MiGs.
“You are still dangerous, but you can be my wingman any time.”
Nothing will ever be more lasting in life, leadership, and business than loyalty. Through battles, tribulations, and failures, staying alongside your wingman will give you the stability to achieve and the confidence to be your best.
Top Gun may be full of pop culture cliches and romantic Americana, but never leaving your wingman is a truth leaders hold across generations.
*This story was co-authored by EOD Lieutenant Jonathan Ferris