January 05, 2004

Tony Soprano as management icon

Posted by Chris

Lucy Kellaway in the Financial Times (my favourite columnist but subscribers only) reveals that:

A new year and a new type of management hero: Tony Soprano, foul-mouthed, bullying mob boss from the telly. Tony has just had a leadership book written about him, putting him on a par with Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, General George S. Patton, Moses, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Jesus, all of whom have been sucked dry for their last management lesson. But with Leadership Sopranos Style , Deborrah Himsel has taken the genre into fictional territory for the first time (that is if one gives Moses the benefit of the doubt). Ms Himsel, whose day job is vice-president of organisational effectiveness at Avon Products, explains her unusual choice of subject as follows: “Tony’s . . . results orientation and empathy are certainly at the heart of his leadership gestalt.”

Posted on January 5, 2004 09:43 AM UTC
Comments

Next up, David Brent.

Posted by Mr Spectator · January 5, 2004 10:01 AM

Sorry for a completely off-topic comment but I’m curious whether you watched Christopher Hitchens’ Ch.4 doc last night on Texas. It was a complete waste of time, a total muddle. He seemed at times mocking of the most extreme redneck tendencies (though even with them it wasn’t at all clear what if anything he thought), at other times not a little in awe of the Texas machismo and suburban rich white lifestyle. I don’t know why I don’t just ignore the ass/arse.

[Yes, watched it. I was disappointed too. CB]

Posted by Merkin · January 5, 2004 12:41 PM

Surely this isn’t the first time that genre’s gone into fictional territory? Anyway she missed one of my favorites, Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun, apparently a huge influence on H. Ross Perot.

Posted by Matt Weiner · January 5, 2004 03:02 PM

Didn’t read the Attila book, but the management secrets of Genghis Khan can be known. In sum: “Cultivate a reputation for generosity, loyalty, and fairness while arranging for the death of every ally who might sometime be able to challenge you.” He could have taught Macchiavelli lessons.

Title of the book: “800 Wives and None of Them Bitch”.

Posted by Zizka · January 5, 2004 04:31 PM

Oh, I didn’t read the Attila book either. It’s just the title, completely po-faced apparently, that’s one of my favorites.

Posted by Matt Weiner · January 5, 2004 04:37 PM

I’d say business leaders emulate Tony Soprano too much already…

Posted by David Weman · January 5, 2004 06:26 PM

Definitely not the first time. There’s Make It So: Leadership Lessons from Star Trek the Next Generation at the very least.

Posted by Kevin Brennan · January 5, 2004 07:03 PM

May we generally conclude, then, that the managers of our great global enterprises are men who choose their guidebooks the way seven-year-olds choose their lunch boxes? (“I’ve got Tony Soprano!” “Neat! I’ve got Worf!”)

Posted by Jeffrey Kramer · January 6, 2004 07:50 AM

Tony Soprano on Mangement, another book on the subject, by entrepreneur Anthony Schneider(Berkley Books, February), takes a slightly different approach: Tony S. is a great role model who loves his team, has a great corporate vision, knows how to build enthusiasm, and work efficiently. Carmela makes an appearance (managing up) and, to mollify the FT and others, there’s a chapter on what Uncle T. does wrong. If he’s good, we can learn from him, fictional or not, perfect or not.

Posted by Bill Jenkins · January 23, 2004 10:14 PM
Followups

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Excerpt: Lucy Kellaway in the Financial Times (my favourite columnist but subscribers only) reveals that: A new year and a new type of management hero: Tony Soprano, foul-mouthed, bullying mob boss from the telly.Read more at respice - prospice

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