https://geekyschmidt.com/tags/leader/Recent content in Leader onhttps://geekyschmidt.com/2008/11/28/machiavellian-leadership/Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:51:46 +0000https://geekyschmidt.com/2008/11/28/machiavellian-leadership/<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"> <p class="toc_title"> Contents </p> <ul class="toc_list"> <li> <a href="#Defense_and_Military"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Defense and Military</a> </li> <li> <a href="#Reputation_of_a_Prince"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Reputation of a Prince </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Generosity_vs_Parsimony"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Generosity vs. Parsimony </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Cruelty_vs_Mercy"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Cruelty vs. Mercy </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Avoiding_contempt_and_hatred"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Avoiding contempt and hatred </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Gaining_Honors"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Gaining Honors </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Nobles_and_Staff"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Nobles and Staff </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Avoiding_Flatterers"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Avoiding Flatterers </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Fortune"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Fortune </a> </li> <li> <a href="#Share_this"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">10</span> Share this:</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prince"><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 30px;" title="The Prince" src="http://i2.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/77/Machiavelli_Principe_Cover_Page.jpg?resize=111%2C156" alt="The Prince Original Cover" align="left" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p> <p>The past few weeks my read of choice before bed is The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli. While the book speaks volumes to the monarchy of yesteryear, the implications for a “Prince” like myself are astronomical. The book has had a direct impact on my leadership outlook and helped me to better understand roles. Forgot the <a id="t18g" title="cheese" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Moved_My_Cheese" target="_blank">cheese</a> and focus on a classic.</p> <p>The book is a chapter-by-chapter breakdown on leadership principles for Princes of the post-Roman empire. Machiavelli does a wonderful job showcasing both sides of a coin. For example Machiavelli correctly points out that a leader must strike a balance between cruelty and mercy. A leader cannot be totally loved and respected and likewise cannot be totally hated and respected. This same chapter discusses the implications of the people loving or hating you and assassination. A very inclusive chapter.</p> <p>As with all principles it is important to take them in small doses. A modern day leader can lean upon the ideals portrayed but not engulf them. My teams would certainly be opposed to my hanging them to deal with disgruntled employees. Or maybe I am just a weak modern leader, a good hanging never hurt anyone.</p>