Leadership has been one of the most important issues to me since I got promoted to manager. There are many books talking about how to lead people and how to perform with them. However, it’s not easy to apply those golden rules to my situation. Sometimes I get great lessons from my team members while I have meaningful feedback from my boss or mentors.
And I accidentally came across the book, “Il Principe(The Prince)” by Niccolo Machiavelli. The book is simple and straightforward. Also, the message that Machiavelli tries to deliver is very well supported by historical examples. Some people may think it’s wicked and obnoxious as he stresses methods to realize the goals and objectives. He doesn’t care about whether the method or the way of thought has a good will. Rather, he suggests a leader should adopt the violent way if it can help to achieve what a leader wants. As a diplomat going through a volatile situation in Italy, his aggressive perspective seems to be very realistic and useful for a dedicated reader who is a monarch of Florence. Surprisingly, many parts are appealing to me and broaden my thoughts.
Leaders tend to be good to others. At least they don’t want to make adversaries. Those who want to be kind and good usually sacrifice their energies and resources so that they can deviate from their original objectives. I have been one of those leaders who care about too many stuff and sense unnecessary things. I have learned that I have to follow bitter decisions though I don’t fully agree with Machiavelli’s message. Members who are under an autocratic leader with a strong management system sometimes respect him and even show great performances. I don’t want to praise the dictatorship, but the fact that people want to be more clarified and well-orchestrated by their leader is one of the most essential maxims in this book.
As a comment from Bertrand Russell, Machiavelli talks about every case and idea based on reasonableness and a causal relationship. His viewpoint is not rooted in whether the action is originated from the good or the bad. It sounds snobbish that to avoid making weakness or showing it is the starting point for a leader. Interestingly the message conflicts with the way of thought that all members have to share every detail with open mindsets without worrying about negative effects, which is introduced in another famous book on working culture and leadership, “No Rules Rules”. There can’t be a one-size-fits-all solution, and I have to flexibly make a decision according to the situation and context. Machiavelli’s book is worth reading even though it is not dealing with leadership things that I expect.