[SPOILERS] HOW TO LEAD (AND NOT TO) AS TAUGHT BY GAME OF THRONES

So, it’s finally over.

And it’s fair to say the Final Season has come in for a lot of criticism. Poor writing has been the most frequent barb thrown towards the Game Of Thrones creators, and there has been so much unrest, that there’s even a petition going around, with over 1 million signatures, to get the season re-done!

Whatever the criticism, my view is it’s a wonderful story, and has delivered some of the best moments of on-screen action that I’ve ever seen. What carries the quality through is the characters. Brought to life with some wonderful acting, the Game Of Thrones characters are mesmerising, and this for me, is what made the final season compelling.

It’s fair to say that there are many lessons to be learned from the characters of GOT, many of these leadership lessons. So in the spirit of learning, here’s what I’ve taken from the programme, both the good and the bad.

HOW NOT TO LEAD

CULPRIT – CERSEI LANNISTER

CRIME – BLIND FOCUS ON POWER AT ALL COSTS

Cersei held power for a long period of time, but it certainly came at a price. Throughout the series, she lost all of her three children, and suffered immense heartbreak. By the end of the final series, Cersei’s one goal is simply to retain power, and this caused her to do awful things. Her final act of desperation is to essentially sacrifice all of her citizens to Daenerys’ dragon.

Of course, for a leader, this is absolutely a crime. Leadership is not about power, and anyone that thinks it is will fail as a leader. In contrast to empowering yourself, leadership is about empowering others so that they can achieve amazing things. The wonderful thing about being a leader, is when others succeed, so do you.

CULPRIT – LITTLEFINGER

CRIME – CONSTANTLY PLAYING OTHERS FOR HIS OWN AGENDA

It seems astonishing that Little Finger lived as long as he did. He was constantly in the forefront of the plot, and forever manipulating others for his own benefit. He did eventually reach his end however, in Series 7. Quite a fitting end too, being tricked into thinking he was at a hearing for Arya, when actually the Stark Sisters had clubbed together to trap him.

Little Finger himself may be a slightly over-the-top example of how not to lead, however, office politics exist – and where there are politics, there are people that play the political game for their own advancement. However, in today’s world, this is a bad idea – we live in the day of authenticity. Authenticity is a key ingredient to being respected as a leader, and frankly, authentic leaders don’t play both sides – they represent themselves truthfully, at all times.

CULPRIT – DAENERYS TARGARYEN

CRIME – OBSESSING OVER A GOAL, AND STOPPING LISTENING TO ADVISERS

It seems very likely that, if this had been written before Series 8, Dany would have made it into the ‘How To Lead’ section. However, the final series did not go well for the Mother Of Dragons. Her reception to the North was cold in every way, and she too suffered horrendous loss. On arrival to Kings Landing she lost her second dragon, and her trusted confidant Missandei was taken capture. Missandei’s execution was the final straw - it was almost as though Missandei was the only string keeping Daenerys tied to the ground. Once she was gone, she didn’t listen to anyone, not Tyrion, not Varys, not Jon – and ultimately, this cost her.

Listening, for leaders is one of the most important skills. Leaders that don’t listen, invariably lose. They lose context, lose respect, and lose their position. Especially in today’s world, where specialism reigns, leaders need to be open to the opinions of those in their team that understand the way the industry is moving. Failing to listen can be a fatal error, which is exactly what Daenerys found out.

HOW TO LEAD

LEADER – TYRION LANNISTER

LEADERSHIP LESSON – ALWAYS LEAVE TIME FOR REFLECTION

The transformation of Tyrion is one of the most spectacular and complete of all the Game Of Throne characters. A frequenter of brothels, and true alcoholic at the beginning, Tyrion’s rise leads to him ultimately having the final say on who should take the throne at the end. This rise isn’t always easy, and at times he laments that he can’t return to his old simpler life. His description of “the perils of self-betterment” is one of the most profound lines in the final series. But what is it that makes Tyrion so special? Obviously he is very intelligent, however intelligence alone doesn’t cut it. What makes Tyrion rise above is the time he leaves for reflection. In a fast paced, and dramatic world, Tyrion always finds time to think, review and analyse almost everything – including himself and his own performance.

This is a wonderful lesson for leaders across the world. Work is fast, and stressful. Taking an hour or so to simply reflect on how things are going is so often seen as a luxury that time can’t afford. However, there’s a twist here. Regular reflection, on yourself, your priorities, and your work can save you time in the future. In these reflective periods, you are able to see where you are wasting your energy, and where you need to change your approach. Regular reflection can help you to see the things that no one else can, just like Tyrion could with Bran the Broken.

LEADER – JON SNOW

LEADERSHIP LESSON – DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS

Not all ends well for Jon Snow. However, with sequels planned, his day may come. If there is one word that you could use to describe Jon Snow, it would be integrity. Everything the man did throughout the 8 series was based on what he thought was the right thing to do. Everything up until his very last major action – killing the woman he loves. Jon did this because he could see that Daenerys was now a danger to the people. It was the hardest thing he could ever do, but in Jon Snow’s mind, the only option.

This is a tough but timely lesson for most leaders. Leading isn’t all rosy. Leading requires you to make hard decisions – decisions that make you wince even thinking about them. However, leadership is as much about delivering for your company as it is protecting your people. Whatever the decision, there are times when tough decisions have to be made for you to do your job. You just have to hope that you are rewarded for it better than Jon Snow.

LEADER – SANSA STARK

LEADERSHIP LESSON – BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR PEOPLE

Sansa endured a horrific journey. Married to Joffrey, abused by Cersei and then hitched to the animal that was Ramsay, no one would have blamed Sansa if she had curled up in a ball and gave up. Yet, Sansa did the opposite. She channelled her pain into self-betterment. She ends Series 8 as the rightful Queen of The North, and manages to liberate The North from the 7 Kingdoms. How did she do this? I can summarise with one word, belief. Sansa draws upon her ability to survive all her previous perils to believe she can do anything. Moreover, she truly believes in the power of The North. It is her belief, and drive to match, that makes her such a powerful leader.

There are many limiting factors that can hold us back as leaders. It could be a perceived lack of resources, lack of funding or lack of creativity. However, there is only one limiting factor that is truly insurmountable – a lack of belief. If you are to achieve anything of note, the first step is believing you can. To help draw more belief, do as Sansa does. Look back at your life and see the hard times you have come through – where did you excel against all the odds? That’s where you draw your belief from, and that is all you need to succeed.

GOT LEADERSHIP 101

A Song of Ice and Fire may be over, but we are sure to see more of these wonderful characters. When we do, look out for more lessons in leadership. Game Of Thrones is all about the gradual and constant battle for prominence and power. As with business, to succeed in Westeros you need followers. And to gain followers, you must be a strong leader.