Top Leadership Lessons From Game of Thrones

Jun 22, 2023, 01:01 IST

Mukul Sharma

1. Dictators put family before state

Whether it was Tywin or Cersei or even Walder Frey or Roose Bolton, all dictators put their families before the state.

2. Honourable leaders are betrayed first

Family, duty and honour may be the words of House Tully, the 'nani ka ghar' (granny's house) of the Stark kids, but ask Ned Stark — if he was betrayed by his own honour.

3. Self-made leaders have good networkers by their side

Daenerys was raised far from Westeros. But her foothold in the land of her ancestors was established because she had great networkers by her side: Tyrion and Varys.

4. Respected leaders are fine communicators

Fine leaders communicate to inspire than to intimidate. Think about when Daenerys told former slaves to choose their own names in Meereen. She was regarded as 'Mhysa', the mother.

5. Good leaders 'know things'

Despite the constant warring chatter in Westeros, Tyrion topped the list of counsels of different Iron Throne occupants and aspirants. Why? Because he read and knew things.

6. Thinking strategically is key to topping the leadership game

Would Jon Snow have won the Battle of the Bastards if it wasn't for Knights of the Vale brought by Sansa? Leave that. Remember, when Daenerys came to Winterfell, Sansa was loud enough to ask: 'What about the North?' North's freedom always topped Sansa's strategic game of thrones.

7. Impulsive leaders are leaders of the worst kind

There was no way Stannis Baratheron, a man of southern seas, was going to win a battle in North's Winterfell with poorly-fed forces against Ramsay Bolton. But impulsively, he fought the war and led his men and women to defeat. Don't forget what happened to the most benevolent, Princess Shireen Baratheon, due to her father's impulses.

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