The 'Devil Wears Prada' Paradox: Lessons in Leadership

kristian8120
Sep 19
2 min read

Have you watched The Devil Wears Prada (2006) which will have its upcoming sequel in 2026? If you have, you will know its controversial figure, Miranda Priestly. She is unforgettable. Sharp, stylish, and always ten steps ahead. She runs Runway magazine with flawless vision, and she commands respect from her industry.

Yet, she is also a terrible leader ...

The paradox is clear. You can be the best at your craft and still fail your people. Leaders who want long-term success need to understand the difference.

Scene 1: Excellence without empathy

One of Miranda’s trademarks is her sharp tongue. A single cutting remark leaves her assistants shaking. She demands excellence and gets it, but at a heavy cost. Andrea and Emily perform because they fear her, not because they trust her.

Mastery in your field earns respect. Without empathy, it builds walls. People comply, but it is often hard to contribute their best ideas.

Scene 2: Fear over psychological safety

Every day at Runway feels like survival. A late latte order or a stumble in delivery can ruin careers. Andrea hides mistakes. Emily suffers in silence. Both are drained.

Fear drives people to cover up; on the other hand, psychological safety drives people to speak up. Teams innovate when they know mistakes will not lead to humiliation. Leaders who want creativity must replace fear with safety.

Scene 3: No space for development

Miranda demands results, but she rarely teaches. Her assistants learn through trial by fire. They deliver tasks, but they never grow into leaders themselves.

A strong leader develops people. You need to coach, mentor, and invest. Your legacy as a leader is not only the work you deliver. It is the people you prepare to step up after you.

Lessons for leaders

The paradox of Miranda Priestly holds up in many workplaces. Some leaders are admired for their technical brilliance but whispered about for their lack of humanity. Well indeed, the teams perform, but they also burn out.

Ask yourself these questions.

Do your people perform because they are inspired, or because they fear mistakes?
Do you correct errors with clarity or with sarcasm?
Do you develop your team, or do you demand without investing in growth?

Your answers tell you where you stand.

The reflection

Miranda Priestly runs Runway. You run a team that needs trust, empathy, and safety to perform. Fear may deliver results in the short term. It will cost you talent and credibility in the long term.