Top Leadership & Management Lessons From ‘Game Of Thrones’

An epic masterpiece of overwhelming plot twists, watching Game of Thrones (GOT) while growing up was one of the best fond memories before Pandemic. Though GOT was a fantasy but if reflected carefully it is woven out of the fabric of reality. Amidst the dragons, white-walkers, witches and magic, the seven kingdoms are nothing but a glimpse of the real world in many ways. Discrimination faced by the poor and disabled, privilege experienced by high born and rich, those who watched ‘Game Of Thrones’ penned by George RR Martin were mesmerized by 20 prominent characters. Each character had a lot to offer in the context of knowledge, management lessons and life perspectives. Here let’s have a sneak peek at what 20 prominent GOT characters teach us:-

Tyrion Lannister

Love him or hate him but you cannot ignore him. Yeah, your wild guess is right. We are talking about none and other than Tyrion Lannister, one of the key characters of GOT. Intuitive, witty, shrewd, kind, compassionate, the sky is the limit when you begin to explore the shades of his persona. Tyrion kept on encountering discrimination, humiliation, and accusation for crimes that he never did He won millions of hearts despite playing a character of a dwarf who was ill-treated by his father. Politician by mind and administrator by heart, his unapologetic attitude etched his name in the history of the most admirable hero.  

Lesson: When in mess, do not give up on humour. You never know when it might turn into the biggest saving grace. Also, never lose the presence of mind no matter how pressing the situation is.

Quote: “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.”

Daenerys Targaryen

What happens when a delicate woman transforms herself into an ambitious queen? Well, it is needless to say that the answer is Daenerys Targaryen. Amidst all the filthy brains, she emerged as a beacon of hope devoted to her mission of making the world a better and secure place. Her unsullied beauty was a sight to behold. She did strive to not let cruelty touch her strength of character but in a merciless world that did not deter to plot ceaselessly against her, she succumbed to mercilessness. Daenerys Targaryen broke the conventional way of ruling. Rather than ruling on people by creating fear or forcing them to obey, she did choose a path of kindness. No wonder she ended up winning unparalleled respect and loyalty. 

Lesson: Learn from mistakes. Choose an advisor that would check your worst impulses. No matter how clever you are, when in a tricky situation, never underestimate the advice offered by experienced mentors. Most importantly, do not be that leader you once loathed, when you get there. 

Quote: “A ruler who kills those devoted to her is not a ruler who inspires devotion.” 

Cersei Lannister

The more you hate her, the more you would find yourself drawn to her. That’s the power of Cersei Lannister who never got tired of coming up with tactics to continue her reign on the throne. An epitome of political ambitiousness, she revealed to us the true meaning of insecurity and jealousy. When she lost all of her children, we empathized with her. An unrivalled manipulator, she ended up being an unmerciful ruler due to her limitless greed towards the throne. She even did not think twice to murder her siblings who threatened her sovereignty. 

Lesson: “The more people you love, the weaker you are. You’ll do things for them that you know you shouldn’t do. You’ll act the fool to make them happy, to keep them safe. Love no one but your children.”

Quote: “Any man who must say ‘I am the King’ is no true King.”

Arya Stark

An epitome of bravery, Arya vowed to avenge her father’s death despite knowing that how challenging the search will be for those who beheaded his father mercilessly. The way she would reiterate the names of her foes one by one before going to sleep every night was quite sentimental. She left no stone unturned in polishing her sword skills. 

Lesson: Sharpen your skills and go on to learn as many lessons as possible. Surround yourself with smart mentors and listen to them while emphasizing strength and justice. 

Quote: “There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: ‘not today’,”

Jon Snow

A character that experienced numerous dilemmas at different points in his life but always managed to make the right decision by listening to his conscience and intuition. A fearless warrior and true comrade, he proved that to be a great leader, a kind heart is equally important as bravery. 

 Lesson: “Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armour, and it can never be used to hurt you.”Also, know when you require quitting your position before you burn out and embark on a new journey of exploring fresh possibilities. 

Quote: “Bravery Wins You Admiration, Kindness Earns You Respect.”

Jaime Lannister

Every human makes a mistake and Kinglslayer aka Jaime Lannister was no exception to it. The way his character evolved indeed made GOT more worth watching. His transition from being a ruthless ruler to a compassionate human being was truly altogether a delightful experience. Becoming wiser by learning from his experience, kingslayer emerged as one of the most intriguing characters of GOT. The way his equation with Brienne of Tarth changed, helped him to perceive the world from different eyes. 

Lesson: Pride is destructive but when one realizes one’s pride after losing everything that one did hold dear is the time when one is free to do anything. After all, it is never too late to realize one’s mistakes.

Quote: “Nothing isn’t better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing.”

Sansa Stark

Beauty with brain or no brain, Sansa’ character’s transition was one of the most surprising GOT’s character transitions? Well, how Sansa’s character evolved from being an immature girl to a sensible lady is something worth reflecting on and admiring. The way she went through hardships in her life one after another and still managed to keep her sanity intact makes her a true warrior. 

Lessons: Adaptability Is The Key To Survival. Her ability to thrive in any situation helped her survive all life-threatening situations. She for sure made numerous mistakes but she did learn from her mistakes. Her survival tactic was at par. 

Quote: “Wise words speak for themselves, knowledge is power.”

Lord Varys

Power Lies In Wisdom And Intelligence. The Wise Are The Builders Of Society.

Lord Varys, one of the key characters of GOT was a gifted man in the context of intuitions. A powerhouse of wisdom, he did strive to avoid clashes amongst seven kingdoms by coming up with proven strategies. However, when he realized that nothing can save the rulership from decaying, he gracefully exited. Many criticized him for shifting his loyalties but it was a pragmatic approach. He emerged as a character who desired to build a civilization rooted in peace and kindness. 

Lesson: Information is the key. A good ruler does not hesitate when it comes to learning from enemies’ strategies and strengths. 

Quote: “Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick, a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.”

Bran Stark

The epitome of mystery, Bran Stark ended up being a recipient of a rare intuitive gift after he lost his mobility. He proved that to embark on any important journey in life, it is imperative to discover self-essence. 

Lesson: You must listen to your inner voice because that is where the true power lies. Moreover, you may not get what you have already lost, but rather than succumbing to pain, focus on a new door that God has opened up for you. 

Quote: “You’ll never walk again, but you will fly.” 

Margaery Tyrell

GOT is for sure over but we are yet to get over her mesmeric feminine beauty that did cast a magical spell on us. Yes, you guessed it right. ​Margaery Tyrell, a sheer beauty with brains. Ambitious, smooth talker and tactful, her brief character left us wanting for more. Right from impressing King Joffery to leaving a lasting impression in the heart of the commoners, her conscience made her stand part from greedy and ruthless rulers and her innocent beauty mesmerized us like never before.  

Lesson: Influencing people with your words is an art and the one who has learnt this art always manages to secure a position amidst an unfriendly environment. However, she underestimated her enemies and that is where she lost.  

Quote: “Do you want to be a Queen? No, I want to be The queen.” 

Brienne of Tarth

How a low-profile character manages to create space for itself episode-by-episode to ultimately become a showstopper? Well, is there any answer better than Brienne of Tarth? An epitome of grace and loyalty, she won countless hearts with her determination, sensitivity, compassion, sensibility and power. Her intriguing conversations with Lannister were profound beyond words. The way she did ensure protecting Stark girls, restores our faith in the word “loyalty”.

Lesson: Overcoming the challenges of leadership in a male-dominated world is not impossible if one has a strong determination and will to do so. If you have taken a vow, execute it at any cost. 

Quote: “All my life men like you have sneered at me. And all my life I’ve been knocking men like you into the dust.”

Tywin Lannister

Money and power rule the world no matter what era. An intelligent Politian with razor-sharp business acumen, Tywin knew that money is the key to acquire power thereby resulting in an authority that makes one gain allies. However, if Tywin had recognized Tyrion’s gifted intuitive abilities, the fate of the Lannister’s clan would have had been different. It was quite unfortunate that he focused on Tyrion’s dwarfism than his substantive character, mind and noble heart. 

Lesson: Build your reputation. How a credible reputation enables you to gain help and allies from those who hate you is what Tyrion Lannister proved. Moreover, money alone does not buy you power. You need to know how to use it well.  

Quote: “A Lannister always pays his debt”

Ser Davos Seaworth

The epitome of loyalty and not blind loyalty, Ser Davos did strive best to protect king Stannis by speaking his mind whenever he realized that something is not aligned to morality. His constant conflict with Red Woman added some intriguing moments to the GOT. 

Lesson: “Never Be Afraid To Say The Truth Or Do What’s Right.”

Quote: “If you have the choice between being right and being kind, choose to be kind”

Ned Stark

A perfect gentleman, Ned Stark idealistic sense of morality did cost him his life. When he discovered the ugly truth about Jaime and Cersei and Jaime, he could not keep it with him. The truth does not save you always and may lead to your demise. Act smart and do not underestimate anything in life.

Lesson: Being gentle in today’s malicious world is a good thing but besides that one needs to know how to outsmart the world. Indeed, the secret to Great leadership is found in a grey area, where leaders know when to people determine when to restraint and when to affirm their authority.

Quote: “Leadership Is More Complicated Than Being A Hero.”

Samwell Tarly

One of the most adorable GOT characters, Samwell Tarly did go through his unique share of struggles, dejection and humiliation. While the Night Watch did label him as nothing but useless when it came to protecting the realm, he found appreciation and a true comrade in John Snow. Their friendship offered us a few of the best friendship goals. Know what abilities and skills you can develop to succeed in your position and role. Knowledge is the true power and Samwell Tarly proved it by emerging as a resourceful character through leveraging the knowledge that he acquired by devouring books. 

Lesson: Sometimes value lies in knowledge and not in the muscle that’s what the character of Samwell Talry taught us. John Snow recognized his power of knowledge and brought the best out of him and we all know rest is the history. 

Quote:  “A mind needs books like a sword need a whetstone if it is to keep its edge.”

Lord Petyr Baelish

Oh how can you forget that mysterious grin of Littlefinger “Lord Petyr Baelish”. A pure opportunist, he emerged as the biggest manipulator in the GOT by seizing the opportunity to accomplish his notorious goals devoid of morals and ethics. The way he went on to climb a royal ladder can put the world’s best management lessons to shame. Nevertheless, amidst his sickening plotting, we could not help but admire his loyalty and love towards Catelyn Stark that became a foundation to protect Sansa, her elder child. 

Lesson: Climbing a few steps higher through leveraging filthy tricks is a lot easier thing but ultimately there comes a day when you are destined to encounter a fatal fate. 

Quote: “There is no honour in tricks.”

Jaqen H’ghar

The faceless man initially came across as a disgusting character but the way he kept his promise to Arya by killing three people for her, he ended up earning spurs. 

Lesson: A Man Always Keeps His Promises.

Quote: “Do not become what you’ve always struggled to defeat” 

Theon Greyjoy

Theon, a man whose insecurity ruined his life while affecting his entire clan was a character that taught us a lot about everything. His ungratefulness for sure compelled everyone to hate him but finally, he seized one moment to correct all the past mistakes and died a heroic death. 

Lesson: One should not let pride and insecurity get his better judgment. You need teamwork to survive Rather than succumbing to jealousy and insecurity, believe in your unique skills and trust that when the time will come, your help will be most needed. 

Quote: “Prejudice Is More Than A Character Flaw—It Is An Achilles Heel”

Bronn

Bronn, a street smart fighter always prioritized money over morals. When it came to combating against The Mountain, he refuted it knowing that the risk is not worthy. No wonder he managed to survive for a long time and earned rich rewards as well. 

Lesson: “It’s hard to put a leash on a dog when you place a crown on its head.” 

Quote: “Know When To Say No.”

Ser Jorah Mormont

Ser Jorah’s one sided-love towards Daenerys made us not only believe in love but also made us fall for his love as well. His love was so powerful that it always managed to find a way out to protect Dany. Even after when Daenerys banished him, he did not stop keeping an eye on the probable perils and saved Dany. 

Lesson: “The freedom to make my own mistakes was all I ever wanted,”

Quote: “Protect Those You Love, Just Don’t Get Friend-Zoned.”

Game of Thrones, a record-shattering phenomenal TV drama filled with complex plots and characters left many lasting memories with imparting a profound understanding of life. Sansa who dreamt of becoming price’s wife ended up in becoming ruling the Winterfell. Daenerys who was almost settled in her marriage ended up leading the most brutal armies. John Snow who always faced mockery being a bastard, ended up emerging as the greatest hero of the battles. Most of the prominent GOT characters did not fetch support from their followers initially but gradually with their sheer determination and will, they ended up being the greatest leaders. Cersei aptly quoted in season one of GOT, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die”. She dropped a massive hint that how the drama is going to end. Ironically, those who played the game neither survived nor won and Bran who neither played the game nor won it ended up being the rightful ruler of the throne. Last but not the least, we are eternally grateful to David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to adapt “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin into a larger-than-life serial drama and HBO for airing it.

Which is your favourite character from GOT or which is your favourite GOT quote? Share in comments and meanwhile here learn the all-time best lessons offered by magnificent GOT characters.