GAME OF THRONES LEADERSHIP LESSONS

I love leadership lessons. They abound in so many different areas such as classic literature, history, world events, religious texts, philosophers, confidantes, workplace mentors, and personal experiences. In addition to all these marvelous sources, I always enjoy the leadership lessons that arise in some of our contemporary movies and television programs.  The popular eight-season television series, Game of Thrones (2011–2019), quickly drew a strong fan base. Whether the genre appeals to you, the series definitely provides us with challenging leadership lessons from which we can benefit.

The television series is based on the original written series by George R. R. Martin entitled, Song of Ice and Fire. Set in an unusual world similar to the Middle Ages, but unlike the earth as we know it, seven major kingdoms battle for dominance. The topography is extremely interesting because it is cast in what appears to be a geometrically inverted hollow globe perhaps a quarter the size of the earth with a small sun hovering in its center as people exist on the inside surface. The sun is encased in various opaque bands that apparently by their systematic rotation create night, day, and seasons. You definitely gain a powerful sense of fantasy. Along with its fantastical and unusual setting, some rich leadership lessons arise from its characters. Writing in Bloomberg Businessweek, Logan Hill summarizes many of these leadership lessons by quoting various series characters (“The Game of Thrones Guide to Management” 4/1/13–4/7/13, pp. 82–83). Here are my favorites on the perils and the heavy burdens of leadership:

Targets

“If a man paints a target on his chest, he should expect that sooner or later someone will loose an arrow on him.” (Tyrion Lannister.)

This quote reminds us when you are a leader you are a target. It is unavoidable. You become the lightning rod. Just as a lightning rod inevitably captures destructive energy from the atmosphere, likewise the leader inevitably captures destructive energy from the group. I can think of no leadership position others or I have filled in which this was not true. Never step into a leadership role unless you are prepared for the arrows.

Friends

“A lord may love the men that he commands, but he cannot be a friend to them. One day he may need to sit in judgment on them or send them forth to die.” (Jon Snow.)

Leadership roles remind us we are in a different relationship with those we lead. That is because we will hold them accountable. A leader must do that. A leader who does not hold his or her people accountable is violating the fundamentals of leadership and is not a true leader. That said, in my personal leadership philosophy, I allow friendships to arise. What I find is important is to maintain boundaries, manage each relationship on its merits, and never give favorable treatment to one person over another due to a friendship. If anything, I believe the friendship relationship enhances my ability to lead the person for two reasons. First, my friends understand that people must be held accountable within any organization. Second, my friends understand that I want what is best for them in every area of their lives not only as a leader, but also as a caring friend.

Consequences

“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.” (Eddard Stark.)

As a leader, you must understand the powerful and real consequences of your decisions. Sometimes you have to look people in the eye when you are delivering painful sentence, and you must give them your ear too. The leader’s sword can be wielded rightly or wrongly. As leaders, we must wield it rightly. Moreover, if you cannot wield it rightly, then you must reassess your motives.

Networking

“When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” (Eddard Stark.)

This quote reminds us we are always better off in a group than alone, especially during dangerous times. Being in a group affords a measure of protection and safety. Being alone can render us vulnerable. The most effective leaders know the importance of aligning with other people and with other groups of people. Networking is not something new in our technological times; it is an ancient art that has never lost its utility.

Power

“A man without friends is a man without power.” (Renly Baratheon.)

A person can have a big title with much responsibility, but if he or she does not have influence, then leadership is absent. In one word (as John Maxwell has affirmed), leadership is influence, and influence derives from relationship. The smart leader handles every relationship with care. Ultimately, the leader’s power will only manifest if something deeper than a big title exists. You can have position power or you can have people power. Position power is ultimately ineffective because people tend to give it lip service only. People power is always effective because people are responding to the character and integrity of the real person.

Trust

“Trust is earned. Like gold.” (Brienne of Tarth.)

Trust is not some commodity that is instantly pulled off the shelf at anyone’s command. Brienne of Tarth reminds us just as we work for our income, likewise we must work for our trust. This is essential to leadership because all leadership is based in relationship and all relationship evolves from trust. Just as gold is earned over time, trust is earned over time. The longer I have known someone in a trusting relationship, the more I know I can depend on that person, because of our mutual trust.

Motivation

“When you know what a man wants, you know who he is and how to move him.” (Petyr Baelish.)

Understanding another person’s motivations is one of the most important components to leadership. If I do not understand what drives a person, then I have no hope of influencing that person. On the other hand, when I know another person’s motives, passions, and desires, then I can adjust my approach accordingly.

Deportment

“Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick. A shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” (Varys.)

Although I do not endorse Varys’ allusions to deception, the fact remains a person’s deportment is extremely important to his or her leadership. Presentation is everything. Perception is reality. These truths are integral to leadership. I have met many people I anticipated would be great leaders only to be sadly disappointed. I have met many people whom for one reason or another I thought would not be leadership material, yet the way in which they comported themselves quickly convinced me otherwise.

Optimization

“There is a tool for every task and a task for every tool.” (Tywin Lannister.)

A wise leader does not try to fit a square peg into a round hole. At leadership’s core is the desire to be a good steward over all entrusted resources. This means the leader must be committed to putting the right people in the right places with the right tools at the right times. Using resources wisely to their maximum capability is fundamental to quality leadership.

Discipline

“In battle, discipline beats numbers 9 times out of 10.” (Eddard Stark.)

Eddard Stark recognizes that even in a battle in which his army is outnumbered, the discipline of his troops will often prevail and ensure the win. A small disciplined army will usually beat the larger undisciplined one. You do not rise to the privilege of leadership without discipline. Discipline is what enhances and extends all your efforts and plans. Without discipline, the leader and the organization suffer. With discipline, the leader and the organization will achieve victories others found impossible.

Gravity

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” (Cersei Lannister.)

A leader understands you win or you lose. Leadership by definition is serious. On some matters, no second chances exist. Leadership can be life-and-death serious. Nevertheless, that very understanding provokes and empowers the leader to lead. The leader engages with full force precisely because of the seriousness of the situation and all that is at stake.

Temperance

“A good king knows when to save his strength and when to destroy his enemies.” (Cersei Lannister.)

Just because you are a leader does not mean you must act on every situation. Not every situation calls for a response. Not every hill is a hill on which to die. Not every situation demands you call out your army. Nevertheless, when an army is called for, then you must swiftly deploy the troops.

Clarity

“Those are brave men. Let’s go kill them.” (Tyrion Lannister.)

I love this line. It is as funny as it is profound. Tyrion Lannister recognized noble qualities even in his enemies, yet he was perfectly happy to kill them. A good leader thoroughly sees reality yet chooses to take the actions the situation demands. The leader makes a decision and then has the resolve to act on it.

Decrees

“Some day you’ll sit on the throne, and the truth will be what you make it.” (Cersei Lannister.)

This quote contains an element of truth and an element of falsehood. A leader understands the power of his or her decrees. As Max DePree states in the opening sentence of his book, Leadership Is an Art, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” The point is leaders define the realities of their times. That is the truth element. The falsehood element is this: Just because a leader decrees something does not guarantee it is based in truth. Leaders, like all people, are fallible. A person’s leadership will ultimately fail if it was never based in truth.

Truth

“People often claim to hunger for truth but seldom like the taste when it’s served up.” (Tyrion Lannister.)

Tyrion Lannister captures the adage: the truth hurts. A significant part of a leader’s responsibility is to lead people into truth. In so doing, individual journeys are sometimes tinged with pain. Sometimes in our personal and professional growth, we must face hard truths about our circumstances or ourselves. Nevertheless, another adage is true: no pain, no gain. A leader may not always like the truth, but failing to engage it does no good to anyone. Leaders must embrace the truth.

Words

“In the end, words are just wind.” (Ser Davos Seaworth.)

In the modern vernacular, talk is cheap, or actions speak louder than words. As a leader, your credibility rises or falls on your words. Words are easy to cast, but sometimes difficult to execute. Thinking before you speak can save much pain and embarrassment later. As leaders, people should be able to count on our words.

Follow-through 

“A Lannister always pays his debts.” (Tyrion Lannister.)

Tyrion Lannister valued his heritage and who he was as a person. Therefore, when he affirmed a Lannister always pays his debts, he was emphasizing he honored all his obligations. He wanted people to know if he said he would do something, then you could count on him to do it.

Self-awareness

“In King’s Landing, there are two sorts of people: the players and the pieces. . . . Every man’s a piece to start with, and every maid as well. Even some who think they are players.” (Petyr Baelish.)

This quote reminds us regardless of our level of leadership, we ought to be concerned not so much with how the world revolves around us, but how we revolve around the world. As much as we might sometimes think we are maneuvering other people, it may be other people are maneuvering us. Arrogance, narcissism, and selfishness can override our intelligence, our morals, and our ethics if we let them. We must take charge of our lives and our leadership. Nevertheless, that should never happen at the expense of our intelligence, our morals, and our ethics.

Disappointment

“In the game of thrones, even the humblest pieces can have wills of their own. Sometimes they refuse to make the moves you’ve planned for them.” (Petyr Baelish.)

Leadership can be a messy business. People do not always do what you would like them to do or even what they say they will do. People do not always do what is best for the organization or even what is best for them. People disappoint us often. In spite of all that, you cannot allow yourself to become demoralized. The superior solution is to take it all in stride, focus on the positive, and consistently use it all to sharpen your leadership.

CONCLUSION

The perils and the heavy burdens of leadership are many. This should give us all pause to reflect deeply upon our leadership. My guess is I am not the only one who can use some improvement.

Fundamentally, all genuine leadership flows out of relationship. The quality of your leadership is a reflection of the quality of your relationships. If you are not happy with your leadership, review how you handle your relationships.

Effective leaders must recognize and respect power. They must learn how to approach it, how to use it, and how to grant it. Missteps with power can have grave consequences, but correct steps with power can deliver terrific accomplishments. Our enduring responsibility as leaders is to use our power correctly.

Stewardship and discipline are two tremendously important leadership obligations. To the extent we demonstrate them, our leadership benefits. To the extent we ignore them, our leadership suffers. I find I must periodically evaluate my stewardship and my discipline if I am serious about strengthening my leadership.

Leaders must sometimes make grave decisions—it simply goes with the territory. Leaders must recognize the gravity of their decisions, and they must be equally committed to the execution of those decisions. A decision with no execution is not the mark of a genuine leader.

Leadership is intrinsically linked to truth. Leaders who ignore this dynamic undermine their leadership, their growth, and their followers’ growth. Leaders who embrace this dynamic strengthen their leadership, their growth, and their followers’ growth.

Leaders who affirm something with their words and then follow through on those words will always have a premium on their leadership. Unfortunately, we see too many examples of cheap leaders. The challenge we all face today is to exercise our leadership in such a manner that people know our words mean something. As leaders, our words must have merit. The saddest place any leader can ever be is when onlookers know his or her words mean nothing. I value my word and my name too much to go there. I trust you do too.

As a past United States president has observed, no small problems ever came to his office. If it was small, then someone else had already handled it. By the time it got to his office, it was quite the mess. This principle remains true for you and me as leaders today. Leadership is, always has been, and always will be a messy business. People and situations do not always play out the way we wanted them to or even the way we thought they would. That is also part of the challenge, and yes, even the fun, of being in leadership. You get to tangle with tumultuous tasks and times. If leadership is not your calling, you will know it fast. If it is your calling, then you will somehow find the strength to embrace joyfully all it brings to your door.