Business Leadership Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Game of Thrones
The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.
Whether you enjoyed the final season of Game of Thrones or signed the petition to remake Season 8, one thing is for sure: it's been an epic journey. As you debate the finale of Thrones and come back for Easter eggs - or ready to watch the House of the Dragon Thrones prequel, which premiered on HBO Max on August 21 - think about what you can learn. Whether you're a founder or an entrepreneur, everything you do in your life can help your business, whether it's watching TV or partying at Disneyland with the kids. Note the following eight Game of Thrones lessons that have emerged throughout the series.
HBOIt's of the utmost importance that you keep your word to your team, your customers, your investors - everyone. Research has shown that simply doing what you promised does more to establish you as a trustworthy person of integrity than exceeding what you promised compensates for not doing it in the first place. .
This is a frequent GoT theme. An infamous example is the Season 3 episode of Thrones, "The Rains of Castamere", better known as "The Red Wedding". Fans know this is one of the most gruesome and brutal episodes of the show - if not all of television - all because Robb Stark didn't keep his vow to marry a daughter of Walder Frey. Other plotters were involved but it could have been avoided if Stark had kept his promise.
Related: The Importance of Integrity: Now More Than Ever
2. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.Effective leaders surround themselves with experts because they realize they don't have all the answers. At the same time, they are sure of what they are good at and know how to use it to their advantage.
Game of Thrones fans may remember Season 4, when Tywin Lannister said to his grandson Tommen, "A wise king knows what he knows and what that he doesn't know."
Cersei never learns that lesson. In the same season, after driving out most of the members, Grand Maester Pycelle warns, "The little council is getting smaller and smaller."
“Not small enough,” Ceresi replies. Spoiler ahead! Being a know-it-all gets her killed in the final season.
On the other hand, Samwell Tarly knows he's not a great fighter like Jon Snow, played by actor Kit Harington, but his strength is his brains and his quest for knowledge - without him, Westeros probably would have been taken by the Night King. Because he knew his strengths and his weaknesses, everything turned out pretty well for Sam in the end.
3. Know your values."Leaders have an obligation to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by our values," wrote Bruce Craven, adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and author of Win or Die: Leadership Secrets from Game of Thrones. We saw it in season one when poor Ned Stark was taken advantage of by the squalid underbelly of King's Landing because of his honor and devotion to duty.
4. You need to control your emotions.Showing that you are human strengthens the relationship with your team, but you must maintain a healthy balance. Yelling and threatening won't motivate your team - you don't rally the troops when you figuratively burn everything down. King Joffrey and Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, are just two examples of leaders who were sent because they couldn't control their emotions.
Related:
The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.
Whether you enjoyed the final season of Game of Thrones or signed the petition to remake Season 8, one thing is for sure: it's been an epic journey. As you debate the finale of Thrones and come back for Easter eggs - or ready to watch the House of the Dragon Thrones prequel, which premiered on HBO Max on August 21 - think about what you can learn. Whether you're a founder or an entrepreneur, everything you do in your life can help your business, whether it's watching TV or partying at Disneyland with the kids. Note the following eight Game of Thrones lessons that have emerged throughout the series.
HBOIt's of the utmost importance that you keep your word to your team, your customers, your investors - everyone. Research has shown that simply doing what you promised does more to establish you as a trustworthy person of integrity than exceeding what you promised compensates for not doing it in the first place. .
This is a frequent GoT theme. An infamous example is the Season 3 episode of Thrones, "The Rains of Castamere", better known as "The Red Wedding". Fans know this is one of the most gruesome and brutal episodes of the show - if not all of television - all because Robb Stark didn't keep his vow to marry a daughter of Walder Frey. Other plotters were involved but it could have been avoided if Stark had kept his promise.
Related: The Importance of Integrity: Now More Than Ever
2. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.Effective leaders surround themselves with experts because they realize they don't have all the answers. At the same time, they are sure of what they are good at and know how to use it to their advantage.
Game of Thrones fans may remember Season 4, when Tywin Lannister said to his grandson Tommen, "A wise king knows what he knows and what that he doesn't know."
Cersei never learns that lesson. In the same season, after driving out most of the members, Grand Maester Pycelle warns, "The little council is getting smaller and smaller."
“Not small enough,” Ceresi replies. Spoiler ahead! Being a know-it-all gets her killed in the final season.
On the other hand, Samwell Tarly knows he's not a great fighter like Jon Snow, played by actor Kit Harington, but his strength is his brains and his quest for knowledge - without him, Westeros probably would have been taken by the Night King. Because he knew his strengths and his weaknesses, everything turned out pretty well for Sam in the end.
3. Know your values."Leaders have an obligation to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by our values," wrote Bruce Craven, adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and author of Win or Die: Leadership Secrets from Game of Thrones. We saw it in season one when poor Ned Stark was taken advantage of by the squalid underbelly of King's Landing because of his honor and devotion to duty.
4. You need to control your emotions.Showing that you are human strengthens the relationship with your team, but you must maintain a healthy balance. Yelling and threatening won't motivate your team - you don't rally the troops when you figuratively burn everything down. King Joffrey and Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, are just two examples of leaders who were sent because they couldn't control their emotions.
Related:
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