My Favorite "CEO" and his managers!

During more than 5 years of my higher education, and 16+ years working history, with one  year in special forces and two years in the military academy,I have learned a lot about people management.  Al kind of theories from dozens of famous writers are just a theories which I never saw in practice and never used in practice. Maybe I wanted but real situations  sometimes need fast reaction and the fast reaction I did learn in forces. So, in the end, I can tell that most valuable lessons I did learn there, and  for other forms of my education it was ok, but in term of percent: Special Forces 60%, military academy 20%, BA-finance 10%, and MBA 10 %. Never the less during all these years I had, and I am still listen one subject which is mostly about people management in stressful situations. Learned a lot from this subject, but it’s not an easy topic. It requires more years of examination then my education totally, and when all counts down I spent 7 years of my life in three different universities. This subject to someone will not be interested, they can't see what is going on, and what is the point. After 15 years of exploring it now,  I can see good and practical examples in things that I did not notice when I was younger. I am talking about The Sopranos, and my favorite CEO Tony Soprano.
So what can we learn from Tony?? Or what can leaders, managers learn to form Tony?

1. It’s lonely at the top: “All due respect, you got no f..king idea what it’s like to be Number One. Every decision you make affects every facet of every other f..king thing. It’s too much to deal with almost. And, in the end, you’re completely alone with it all.”

The chief executive’s role is a unique role. For anyone who holds this role, or aspires to, it’s important to understand that being a leader is not just another job. It is a distinctive and many-faceted role, and everything flows from that. It’s why leadership is not for everyone.

2. Learn from your mistakes: “There’s an old Italian saying: you f..k up once, you lose two teeth.” “A wrong decision is better than indecision. “

Making mistakes is an inevitable part of making decisions; it is certainly not an excuse for not making decisions. A mistake may indeed come with unwanted consequences, but successful leaders know that a mistake made is a mistake made once only. Losing two teeth is bad enough; the consequences of making the same mistake again could be a lot worse. But whatever the pain, and whatever the risks, decisions have to be made. If decisions are not your thing, neither is leadership.

3. The vision thing: “Think! The big f..king picture”

A chief executive is constantly making decisions, solving problems, assessing risk and responding to opportunities – but the minutiae of the every day must be in the context of short-, medium- and long-term objectives, otherwise it’s just chaotic adhere. A sustainable business requires a leader who knows where it’s going.

4. You have authority – use It.:“What use is an unloaded gun? “

There’s no point being a leader and not using the authority that comes with that. Some decisions are unpleasant, but they are also necessary, and they can only be made by the chief executive. Whether it’s rebuking or sacking an incompetent manager, or closing down a division that is not performing, chief executives who avoid unpleasant decisions will render themselves incapable of doing their job.

5. Having authority also means knowing when not to use it:“You can’t fight every f..king battle, right?”

Being incapable of exercising authority is not a good thing when you’re a leader, but knowing when not to pull the trigger is. Some battles just can’t be won. Attempting to find a solution to every problem is a sure way for chief executives to spend most of their day banging their heads against a wall or running around in circles – pick your cliché. And even some battles that can be won may not have to be won by you; be prepared to delegate.

6. Work-life balance: know your place “I got problems at work. I got problems at home.”

A leader’s day at the office can be long and fraught; those days should be left at the office, or they will poison valuable – and precious – family and recreational time. Knowing how to switch on and off is one of a chief executive’s most important skills.

7. Have a plan “Let’s do it right: ”Act normal. Plan things out. Make no mistakes. “

Running a business, big or small, is complex, because the organization is a complex, almost living organism. Some decisions can be made intuitively, and need to be so. It’s important for chief executives to be able to think quickly on their feet. But only so much of leadership can come down to gut feel and a sixth sense. There is no sustainability without a plan.

8. Dealing with people:” Those who want respect, give respect.”

Some chief executives lose the skill of dealing with people as individuals; they lose or gloss over their empathy for others; they no longer consider it important to be able to hold conversations and to listen; even though these are the attributes that often get them to their positions of leadership. Successful chief executives understand the importance of the “r” word: respect.

Although word CEO is mentioned many times in this blog, but not forget that Tony was not always number one, and do not forget others individuals who are under him as a ”foot soldiers”, Capos, made-man, or ordinary individuals from his life. From small dialogs, at first sight not important for hall story we can see some interest things, deep psychological stuff.  Things that we can find in our everyday life, but when we are in those situations we cannot observe like a neutral observer.
David Chase created master pace about everyday interaction among people, about false friendship, about fake things in life about the sadness that is been hide for decades, and packed in Mafia story because its more interested. It’s interested because any kind of bad decision is pay bay going to jail or by ending dead. So what can managers, ordinary peoples learn from Tony and from hall Sopranos crew? Most of them not to much! In Sopranos, most of Toni’s friends associates, are ending dead sooner or later or ending in jail. Although this is TV sitcom, but  show how dangerous is this “business". There is no room for big mistakes. From another side, we have room for huge mistake, and they can cost as our job, or something else, but in the end normally people will not end dead or in jail. So do not be afraid! 

Last but not the least Tony is mad and angry almost al the time and it's OK. I am not suggesting that we copy past Tony behavior. Its ok to be mad when we should be mad! Those stupid sectarian shit;"be positive", " take your mind on a special place", " you are batter than this",  etc is pure idiotism, but its another topic.
When someone pissed you off so hard that you are losing ground on your feet, tell him what you mean, tell him all, no matter who is another person and what are consequences of your words ( to get fired, ho gives a f**k). We can't react to everything, but we must react sooner or later if we don't we will find our self in a mental institution, or with heart problems, high blood sugar and all other problems connected with stress When someone "push you", push him or her back!!
Individuals who are fans of Sopranos-like I am will understand, huge fans, fans for life, and other...who give the F***!!

https://youtu.be/zUmbUz0N2Lg