Customer Reviews

Shakespeare on Management

In Shakespeare's time, `senior managers' were called `leaders' (read kings, queens, dukes and lords), whose job was to lead an organization (read nation, clan or county). Running an organization then, as now, required consummate leadership skills.

Understanding how Shakespeare's characters fare as leaders provides lessons for most modern organisations since the issue of leadership is so central to their survival. An analysis of the characters who fail as well as succeed as leaders is provided.

Part 1 underlines the different reasons why Shakespeare's leaders can provide lessons for today's managers.

Part 2 explores the way in which Shakespeare creates individual leaders (Richard II, King Lear and Antony) who fail because they believe that power and authority are enshrined in them as people.

Part 3 covers leaders (Richard III, Macbeth and Coriolanus) who fail because they believe that authority resides in the ability to manipulate and to use fear to maintain power.

Part 4 explores the one heroic and successful leader Shakespeare created-Henry V-who recognized that to become a great king he has to learn how to do it. And in order to learn how to do it he needs to learn not from other kings but from his future subjects.

Part 5 demonstrates both in Shakespearean and modern management terms the importance of understanding the life of the mailroom as well as the boardroom. The two are interconnected and a brilliant leader knows not just how, but never forgets it. Both the Fool in King Lear and Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2-strong personalities who provide truthful messages contrary to the company line-are vital to the generation of good leadership.

Reviewed by Azlan Adnan. Formerly Business Development Manager with KPMG, Azlan is currently managing partner of Azlan & Koh Knowledge and Professional Management Group, an education and management consulting practice based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. He holds a Master's degree in International Business and Management.