Eight lessons from the Godfather...

This week marks the fiftieth anniversary since one of the great triumphs of cinematic history, the Godfather, was first screened. Both the movie and the book have left indelible impressions on the minds of movie lovers and people across all segments of society. One of those rare films which connects Dr Anthony Fauci (who referred to the book as his ‘favourite book of philosophy’), to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (who declared that the final scenes of the Godfather as his favourite film experience), to President Barrack Obama who declared Godfather 1 and 2 as his two favourite films in an interview.

?I watched the Godfather again earlier in the week and was struck by some of the lessons the movie offers to anyone in the world of business and thought I’d attempt to set out some insights from the film to end the week on a light-hearted note! For the avoidance of doubt, I’m not condoning the copious violence, toxic masculinity and casual illegality that punctuates the movie, and definitely not advocating use horses’ heads as a negotiating tactic.

Spoiler alert: If you have not watched the Godfather and would like to watch it at some point in the future, I’d suggest coming back to this article after you’ve watched it!!

?

Lesson #1 – Always be clear on the mission and purpose of your organisation

Don Vito Corleone made it clear that the Corleone Family does not do drugs and he as fairly emphatic on the point. All good with a bit of gambling, loansharking, shakedowns and running an olive oil monopoly, but none of that dangerous narcotics business….

Vito Corleone was clear that what his Family was doing was to support the underserved segments within the community (e.g., people who had no access to formal banking loans or protection services). Drugs on the other hand damaged societies and so he was loathe to participate in the drug trade, despite the obvious monetary benefits and the impact it will have in terms of strengthening his competitors. As Don Vito Corleone says in the Godfather, “It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be so friendly if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling which they consider a harmless vice. But drugs, that's a dirty business.”

?He made it clear that nobody in the family will engage with the drug trade and the message on the purpose of the Corleone Family was clearly articulated to all the capos (captains) and soldiers.

?

Lesson #2 – Always have people you can trust around you

A consistent feature of Vito Corleone was to always seek the guidance of people around him before a decision is made, quickly and without hesitation.

Tom Hagen became consiglierie, or advisor to the Corelone Family and the Don. Tom was a qualified lawyer and always provided sound advice that ensured that the Family’s interests were always protected.

Vito Corleone, in his early years, had the likes of Pete Clemenza and Tessio being his trusted advisors who guided him on the growth of the Family and the business undertakings (though Tessio became a turncoat at the end!).

In his later years, Vito relied completely on his son Michael Corleone (the superb Al Pacino) to guide him and the family into a new world away from crime.

No great leader leads alone -s/he always does so only with a trusted team of like-minded and aligned team leaders.

?

Lesson #3 – Communicate clearly and let people get on with their tasks

Great leadership requires clarity in communication. Once decisions are made, they have to be communicated clearly so that the tasks are properly understood, and good leaders then let their people get on with the activities at hand.

A good example comes from the start of the movie when Don Corleone acquiesces to Bonasera the undertaker’s request to sort out the people who did terrible things to his family. Don Vito provides clear instructions to Tom Hagen: “Give this job to Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren’t going to be carried away. I mean, we’re not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks.”

A great example of clear and direct communication and not micromanaging.

Another point worth also reflecting on is to keep messages simple and not obscure. A good example is when Sonny Corleone (played by the amazing James Caan) received a package with a fish in the vest of Luca Brasi (a feared Corleone Family enforcer) and became dumbfounded and doesn’t quite know what to make of it. It needed Pete Clemenza to explain that that Luca Brasi sleeps with the fish (in the bottom of some deep body of water). No point sending a message that seems clever but requires detailed explanations as to what it means.

?

Lesson #4 – Know what the competition is up to

?As the good Don guides us, “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”

Vito Corleone and his team were also keeping an eye on the key developments across the other four Families that made up New York’s Five Families (the Dow Jones of the Mafia families in the US).

They knew what their primary business activities were and also invested in an intelligence system that allowed to figure out what their competitors’ next developments were (like making the connections and finding out about the partnership between Virgil Sollozo and the Tattaglia Family in the narcotics trade).

?

Lesson #5 – Plan for changes taking place in the world around you

?Another important lesson from the Godfather is the need to constantly plan for the winds of change taking place across your operating environment.

Michael Corleone learnt this and realised that there was greater scrutiny and saw that the noose of law enforcement was getting tighter around the old-school Mafiosis.

He laid the plans for the Corleone family to move away from criminality and to exit the olive oil business whilst also divesting the family’s operating units (getting Tessio and Clemenza to split off from the Corleone Family and set up their own Families) and move the Corleone Family into the legal casino business.

Lesson #6 – Avoid making decisions hastily

Act in haste and repent at leisure (or repent and die in the case of Sonny Corleone).

The film is a good reminder never to make decisions or act out rashly. A good example is when Sonny Corleone (the eldest son of the Godfather, Don Vito Corleone), flies into a rage at hearing his sister having been again subject to domestic abuse. His enemies orchestrated this (through Sonny’s conniving and weaselly brother-in-law, Carlo Rizzi) and they knew that Sonny’s rashness will lead him to rushing to his sister’s house. They ambushed him along the way at a toll booth, where Sonny died in perhaps one of the most dramatic scenes in the movie.

?The point around taking time to reflect and regroup also shone through when Don Vito Corleone instructed his godson, Johnny Fontane, to take a month off work, to eat well and rest so as to allow him to take stock and recover after being through a difficult time.

?When Don Corleone is shot, Sonny Corleone wants to take revenge immediately and Tom Hagen advises patience and caution:

Tom Hagen: This is business, not personal!

Santino "Sonny" Corleone: They shot my father. It's business, your a*s!

Tom: Even shooting your father was business, not personal, Sonny!

The theme of being patient keeps coming back time and again throughout the movie and one that we can all take heed of.

?

Lesson #7 – Invest in building a community

A subtle lesson from the Godfather is around how important it is to invest in the building of a community of well-wishers, suppliers, customers and advocates.

The entire movie considers how one builds a network of influence with key decision makers (in this case – judges, policemen and politicians) and continue to ensure there are clear lines of communications across major stakeholders.

From the very start of the movie, when Don Corleone agrees to do a favour for Bonasera (the undertaker), he reminds him, “Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day.” Whilst the returns may be unclear, this approach of doing someone a favour without immediate reciprocity, ends up becoming rather beneficial to the Corleone Family.

?

Lesson #8 – Be clear on the priorities

“Leave the gun, take the cannoli”

Fans of the movie will understand exactly what I’m referring to here.

?

?