As they strive to find innovative ways to lead in an increasingly complex world, corporate leaders are no longer bound by contemporary management theories and may instead choose to seek wisdom from leaders of the past.
One historical figure whose recommended leadership style they may or may not wish to emulate is the Italian politician Niccolo Machiavelli, often considered the father of modern political science. In 15th century Italy, powerful families ruled the masses. Should you be born to the “right” family, you were likely to grow up to be a wealthy and influential politician or banker.
Machiavelli’s infamous book, The Prince, was meant as a gift to the rising heir from the powerful Medici family, who was to inherit the Florentine kingdom. While intended to provide advice to the heir as to how he should best use, retain and expand his newfound power, the treatise also contained controversial leadership theories, the virtues of which are still debated today.
He made famous the classical leadership dichotomy, “Whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with.”
Fast-forward some six centuries, and Machiavelli’s piece de resistance is still widely referred to today as a must-read strategy book for any upcoming individual who wishes to be an effective leader.
