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posted by n1 on Tuesday April 08 2014, @08:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the life-is-just-like-tv dept.

Sunday's return of Season 4 of Game of Thrones reminds us that you may have encountered a Stannis Baratheon or Daenerys Targaryen in the workplace as psychologist Elizabeth Neal and executive coach Iain Crossing provide an analysis of the management styles of the Westeros power-grabbers and what they should do to become more effective leaders.

For example, Stannis Baratheon is a blustering leader with powerful allies the kind of person that could be found in junior management or senior operational roles in a family-run or semi-government business with no dedicated HR resources and weak governance. "Stannis has a strong work ethic and is likely to be respected by his subordinates however his need and greed for power allows him to be influenced contrary to his principles," says Crossing. "There certainly are qualities that are promising but there would need to be professional development." Joffrey Baratheon is emotionally unstable, antisocial, immature, unreliable, reckless and irresponsible says Neal, and displays a pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others while his narcissism indicates that he is too insecure to change. When facing a Joffrey in the workplace, your best bet is to lodge "complaints with HR and try get him moved on," says Crossing.

Finally there is the one character in Game of Thrones at the top of her game who would make it as a corporate executive just as she is Daenerys Targaryen. The 'mother of dragons' is collaborative and resourceful, a fast learner and highly adaptable to change. According to Neal, Targaryen leads with compassion and "an appropriate amount of maternal instinct while remaining unswayed by emotion." Daenerys is also a risk-taker who has strong beliefs about right and wrong and takes it upon herself to champion her ideals of social justice. "I can't fault her leadership style," says Neal. "That's the kind of leader I would respond to well, personally."

[Editors Note: Author has informed us this writeup has been cross submitted.]

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Sir Garlon on Tuesday April 08 2014, @09:06PM

    by Sir Garlon (1264) on Tuesday April 08 2014, @09:06PM (#28458)

    If your colleagues were Game of Thrones characters you would be getting laid by extremely attractive members of your preferred sex ... or murdered in gruesome ways ... or both. So be glad it's just a TV show (and a series of novels).

    --
    [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
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