Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian political philosopher and writer, famous for his book "The Prince," written in 1532. The Prince, dedicated to Lorenzo (Il Magnifico) De’Medici, is a political treatise that discusses the ways in which a ruler can maintain power and control over his country.
Although the book was written almost 500 years ago, the lessons it contains are still relevant today, notably in the world of leadership and management. And despite its ill reputation, “The Prince” is not all vicious and cruel: even if it does include several ethically questionable parts (to say the least), it also contains truly virtuous and honest wisdom. Here are five modern-day lessons we can learn from Machiavelli, which are not completely cold-blooded:
1. Be respectable to inspire respect from others
“A prince is despised if he is considered changeable, foolish, weak, mean, and uncertain. A prince should avoid these characteristics […]. In his actions he should try to show greatness, courage, seriousness, and strength” (chap. 19)
What makes a strong leader, and what makes a weak one? Do you ever hear of some manager criticized for being “too nice to be a good boss”? Well it’s not about being nice or mean; it’s about decisiveness, character and confidence. A leader should always display a strong personality. It should be obvious in everything he does: the way he dresses, the way he stands, the way he speaks. For example, self-deprecating humor, while funny in a social gathering, is a leadership killer in any professional setting. Even small details, like poor posture, can weaken a leader’s credibility.
In the movie “U-571”, Harvey Keitel tells Matthew McConaughey, the second officer in command who just got in charge of the whole crew, "the skipper always knows what to do even when he doesn't". In leadership, there is no place for doubt and second-guessing; only assertiveness and action will keep you at the head of your team.
2. Don't be hungry for women or money
“What would most get him (the Prince) hated is his being a grabber, a thief of his subjects’ property and women; he mustn’t do that. Most men live contentedly as long as their property and their honor are untouched” (chap. 19)
And another excerpt:
“When he has to proceed against someone’s life he should have a proper justification […]; but above all things he must keep his hands off people’s property, because a man will forget the death of his father sooner than he would forget the loss of the property his father left to him.” (chap. 15)Machiavelli warns rulers against corruption, noting that lust for money and women can distract a ruler from his duties and quickly lead to his downfall. In the modern world, this is more topical than ever. Harshness, even ruthlessness can be forgiven, as long as your goals remain selfless and, on the long term, in the best interest of your team. People will inevitably feel if you are using them for your own benefit, or if you’re truly on the same boat with them: in the first case, you will only stir up their hatred and lose any authority you may have over them. In the second, you’ll remain their respected leader.
And obviously, humiliating your constituents in any way, thinking of yourself as the “Don Juan/Alpha Male” type, sexually harassing anyone in your team or related to them, would not only get you fired from your company, but would also land you in court, facing some rabid lawsuits.
3. Mingle with your people
“One of the best things that the acquiring ruler can do is to go and live in the newly acquired state, which would make his position more secure and durable. […] Subjects who are well-disposed towards the prince will have more reason to love him; and those who aren’t will have more reason to fear him.” (chap. 3)
Machiavelli advocates for rulers to have knowledge of their lands and the people living in them. How does that apply in the modern world? Well, be close to your team, be present. Break bread with them. Attend weddings, attend funerals, have lunches with your partners or business associates, create human bonds. This is especially important in today’s world, where telecommunications make it so easy to be evasive and distant. Don’t fall into that trap.
Get to know your team. Go grab a drink with a couple of colleagues to finish up discussing some project. Organize some sporting competition for your team, or some Sunday outing. Meet their families. By mingling with them, you learn more about them, about their strengths and their potential, and they appreciate you more.
Of course don’t overdo it; don’t be like Steve Carell in the TV series “The Office” who’s so desperate for his team’s affection that he gets the exact opposite… Let’s stay moderate.
4. Empower your team
“When any new prince has found the people unarmed he has armed them. Why? Because, by arming them you make those arms yours: the men whom you distrusted become loyal, those who were already loyal remain so, and your subjects become your supporters.” (chap. 20)
And also:
“A prince ought also […] to honor those who are talented in any art or craft. And he should encourage his citizens to carry steadily on with their ordinary occupations—in commerce, agriculture, and so on […]. The prince should create incentives for doing these things and for doing anything else that improves his city or state.” (chap. 21)Invest in your team. Get them to learn new skills, give them responsibilities, and rely on them. Some weak bosses don’t want their staff to evolve, fearing they might one day surpass them and take their place. But trust is a two way street: if they feel that you’re keeping them from growing, they’ll most certainly look for another workplace, more supportive and appreciative of their talents. Also, while your staff evolves, you’re evolving too, probably much faster than them, so it’s really stupid to let your team stagnate, especially in today’s competitive market.
5. Be frugal
“If he is wise he won’t be afraid of being thought to be a miser, because no-one will think that about him when they see that by reining in his spending he leaves himself with the resources needed to defend himself against all attacks, and to tackle various projects without burdening his people. His management of his wealth, therefore, works well for the countless people from whom he doesn’t take anything.” (chap. 16)
A good leader is thrifty; he’s careful with the company’s money, just as a father should be very cautious with the family’s expenses. A great part of leadership is managing the assets, most importantly the financial assets. A free-spender, even though agreeable and fun to be with, will be (justly) perceived as irresponsible, even dangerous for the company he’s running, as he might drive it to bankruptcy from bad financial management. On the other hand, you have a tightwad; now this guy is really cheap, he’s no fun at all, but when it comes to running the books, he can be trusted with the company’s expenses, you can be sure of that. Between the two, for the leader role, you take your pick…
6. Show courage and initiative
“Nothing builds a prince’s prestige more than his undertaking great enterprises and his setting a fine example by his personal conduct.” (chap. 21)
By “great enterprises” in today’s context, as opposed to early 16th century Italy, we’re obviously not talking about “waging war against neighboring cities” or invading Canada (although that might be fun, but no…); we’re talking about initiative, entrepreneurship. Be proactive (as Stephen Covey would advise), have an entrepreneur spirit, come up with creative ideas and new projects that might benefit your company, plan them wisely and put them into action; that’s really the best way for you to shine as a leader, and prove you’re a worthy and inspiring headman.
In conclusion, it’s probably worth giving that timeless classic a re-read, and soak up in the pragmatic philosophy and ingenious sense of strategy of our favorite (although disreputable) Italian philosopher. You might encounter the risk of coming out as a deranged sociopath to the librarian lending you Machiavelli’s The Prince, but hey, it’s definitely a risk worth taking.
Or you could just buy it online: here's a good edition.
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