Machiavellian Leadership and Management

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Machiavellian Leadership and Management

While I was reading a book on Machiavellianism with unusual interest, my 13-year old daughter asked what is this all about. Usually I like such questions and I encourage them to ask such questions. My son also joined his sister...
To maintain the brevity, I decided to spend some time to recollect what I just read. The essence was: "leaders can accomplish their goals only by being tough, manipulative, dictatorial, or paternalistic as the situation requires…" "never make your intentions clear when you communicate…" " consider everybody as potential rivals and never believe…"
I realized the mistake I was going to make if I told the true content with full ownership. So I decided to take an advance bail this book I am not reading for practicing. I am just reading it for understanding the perception of the author and others who would read this...
⇨Is the Machiavellian approach still applicable today and is it sustainable?

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		3 suppinder bains Manager, Canada
	Machiavellian Management Style In answer to your question, it is sustainable and quite effective in the short-term in cases where the people you lead are financially vulnerable with limited options or financially too vested in the organization to consider other options... In the long-term it will not produce sustainable results, you will lose the people you lead both at an emotional level and also see attrition significantly increase assuming there are organizations out there that offer something more than just a paycheck that satisfies them... I have chosen not to go this route, that does not mean one can not lead effectively, it's just a different approach... You may want to read 'The 48 Laws of Power'... or another book to learn about different perspectives on use of social power, even if one does not intend to incorporate them in one's leadership style...

		2 Michael D. Moore Entrepreneur, United States
	Machiavellian Management Style I would be very concerned about using this method for short term gains at the expense of long term continuity and team success. If you get into a situation where you must contemplate this type of short term approach, something else is very wrong.

		0 Graham Turnaround Manager, United Kingdom
	Machiavellian Management Style I think different management styles can be used for different situations. Sometimes things do go wrong - that's business. For example, containment programmes do by their very nature focus on the short term. Other programmes of work related to the same issue or problem can focus on root cause mitigation, strategy and sustainment and perhaps here people use different management or leadership styles. I am always intrigued when people either say a management style is bad or good because to me is suggests a lack of adaptability or perhaps an experience base that is limited to a particular field or theme. I wouldn't use a putter to tee off on a golf course and I wouldn't use a wood in a bunker. I don't think in themselves that putters or woods are bad clubs. They just come into their own in the right situation...

		3 Abhishek Vidyarthi, India
	Ineffective Leadership Style Leadership has evolved a lot since the making of Rome to say the least. If we look back it used to be more about "control". With the different phases of human advancement I guess we are now in the age where information is cheap and readily available, everyone is informed about their rights! In this age the Machiavellian style is not something that can help us achieve the desired results. In our age partnership and trust are more required, as a leader we must not compromise with values at all, and under all circumstances take the people along with us, not by giving orders.

		0 Soraya Arteaga Canada
	Machiavellian Management Style Leaders that rely on this approach a little or a lot have egotistical tendencies and are really only trying to meet their own needs. Lacking true leadership they create an atmosphere of distrust, cut throat tactics, and low morale. The mission of the company becomes secondary to the Machiavellian leader needs. A truly successful organization will not allow such styles of leadership.

		0 Javier Elenes Business Consultant, Mexico
	Machiavelian Management versus Leadership A manager "manage people pushing they toward company goals. A leader manage people atracting they (pull effect) to a worthy mision an the followers thing that the eader "wants my well being", "looks like is capable" and "what he states is worthy" A machiavelian manager or leader push or pull toward his goals (and on the majority of the cases this goals are bad por the team members (hitler).

		4 robin umiom Entrepreneur, Nigeria
	Machiavellian Style is not without Merits The Machiavellian management leadership style is not totally condemnable. It can still have some value, particularly when it is understood there are so many different organizations, people and subordinates. Certain situations, organizational objectives and perspectives may require Machiavellian management leadership approach. For example, leading a gang of rebels or armed robbers or any such organization may require this approach. I admit in normal situations, this style is not only outdated, but also condemnable.

		0 Alok Rath Management, India
	How Simple is the Question of Power? For me, Thomas Jefferson's quote (something like the following) is a key influencer - "The more power you shed, the more powerful you become". I have seen very few people that I have worked with actually practicing it. But the wonderful few who did, made a huge difference to how high energy + high attitude actually 'conjured up' to achieve real 'team' results - that is I think, sustainable.

		0 SATISH PANDE Business Consultant, India
	Machiavellian Management Style was Relevant Machiavellian management style was relevant during his period. Leadership is very dynamic it is a function of the leader environment and the led. As in mathematics: f(i,u,e). It is definitely time specific. Some basic principles for good leadership remain constant such as belief in self, vision, and courage to take responsibility etc. In India something similar to this style is known as Chanaky Niti. Chanakya was a teacher in a university who mentored Chandragupta to unite India under his kingdom which was divided into smaller city states. Most of the things are not relevant, because they dealt with the social structure at that time. For good leadership the good intentions are basic then the leader has to have conviction in his ideas, he must have vision to implement his ideas. He must be aware of the environment, the pulse of the people whom he leads... The leader, the led and environment make a complete ecosystem. Interdependent.

		3 Michael D. Moore Entrepreneur, United States
	Relevance of Machiavellian Style to lead Younger Employees I continue to feel that today the younger generation will not react in a productive way to the general Machiavellian style. Senior managers will need to be more versatile......