Game of Thrones on Business: Strategy, morality and leadership lessons from the world's most talked about TV show

We have always learned through stories, and in Game of Thrones on Business managers learn from the parallels drawn between HBO’s global phenomenon and today’s business world. The authors also use stories and characters from the series to breathe life into management theory. Readers will discover: • What Tywin Lannister has in common with Steve Jobs; • Why Ned Stark should have had a scenario-planning meeting; • What Daenerys Targaryen can teach us about servant leadership; • How to network like Littlefinger; • Why behaving like Jon Snow will just antagonise your boss. Game of Thrones may look like a story that is as far removed from modern business as is possible, but look a little closer and you’ll notice that the differences are merely superficial: that hostile small council meeting is a boardroom showdown, Daenerys Targaryen is the business ingenue you can’t afford to disregard and the White Walkers are a slowly advancing threat to your company’s survival. If you think you can stomach the cut and thrust of business this book will show you the insider tricks for success and the hidden pitfalls to watch out for. But remember, if you want to go all the way it takes full commitment: when you play the game of thrones you win or you die. There is no middle ground.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Lead to serve Daenerys Targaryen demonstrates how to lead without resorting to tyranny 2. Lead to win Tywin Lannister shows that nastiness pays – but only for the chosen few 3. Don’t mix business and pleasure John Snow and Ygritte learn the perils of bringing your love-life to work 4. Be decisive – no matter how tough it is Even good guys have to do bad things sometimes as Ned Stark points out 5. Keep your word Robb Stark discovers too late the dangers of broken promises in business deals 6. Power is greatness What Niccolo Machiavelli knew, and Robb Stark found out at the Red Wedding 7. Stick to the truth Jorah Mormont learns why it never pays to lie to your employer 8. Be cross-culturally savvy What Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen’s differing ways of dealing with the Dothraki can teach us 9. Network, network, network Tips on working your connections from Petyr Baelish and Lord Varys 10. If you can’t lead, influence Cersei Lannister demonstrates how to have it your way 11. Keep an eye on the finances Tycho Nestoris explains why numbers are more powerful than words 12. The perils of corporate inbreeding From the Targaryens to the Habsburgs, why not everything should be kept in the family 13. Don’t let it go to your head How to avoid becoming the Mad King if you make it to the top 14. Plan for tough times Why Ned Stark could have done with a scenario planning meeting or two 15. Don’t overshare Why it pays to keep some things to yourself, especially if Petyr Baelish is around 16. Getting your message across What a crown of molten gold tells us that a carrier raven or press release never could 17. Playing the waiting game What Stannis Baratheon can teach us about the pitfalls of being first to market 18. Act on evidence not on prejudice Brienne and Jaime discover the benefits of getting to know your allies and your competition 19. Keep it in the family Tywin Lannister shows why the business is more important than personal feelings 20. You don’t know everything If you’ve never been north of the Wall you need to listen to those who have 21. Right is not good enough Ned Stark learns that truth and honour are weak when you face accomplished game players 22. Everybody has a weakness Daenerys Targaryen demonstrates how to play the game by your own rules 23. Delegate Tywin Lannister demonstrates the value of pragmatism when it comes to choosing your deputies 24. You win or you die Why you need to emulate Petyr Baelish and take calculated risks 25. The climb Change and destruction can create opportunity – just ask Petyr Baelish 26. A house divided cannot stand Robb Stark’s mishandling of Roose Bolton shows us how not to deal with dissent 27. Opportunity from adversity Bran Stark demonstrates how to recover from a massive fall 28. Nobody likes a smartarse Telling everybody, ‘I’m the best’ will make you unpopular with the boss. Won’t it, Jon Snow 29. Put your rivalry aside Some threats, like the White Walkers, are so bad you may need to form strategic alliances to defeat them 30. Defy expectation Follow Brienne and Arya’s examples and achieve your goals by being true to yourself Conclusion Sources

About the Author :
Rebecca Clare is a business editor and publisher. She is the author of two books, the first of which, Game of Thrones on Business, was shortlisted for the 2016 CMI Management Book of the Year. Tim Phillips is a freelance journalist, writing about business, technology, social change and innovation. He has written for The Wall Street Journal Europe, The International Herald Tribune, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Independent and The Daily Express among others. For two years he was a technology and internet columnist for the Guardian.

Review :
an interesting read!' It’s a good read for all Game of Thrones fans who might want to prepare in case “winter is coming.”' Surprisingly full of solid advice based on the storylines … it might be what you need to rise through the ranks.' Tim Phillips and Rebecca Clare … have written a business book based on the shifting power dynamics of Westeros' Canny authors Tim Phillips and Rebecca Clare have seized on the power struggles and psychopaths of Westeros to write Game of Thrones on Business.' The Game of Thrones careers guide: job tips from Westeros.' Game of Thrones: 5 business lessons from the Seven Kingdoms. A new book, Game of Thrones on Business, argues that Bill Clinton is just like Jon Snow, and that Daenerys and Netflix share the same business strategy.' In the vicious world of Westeros, where professional development is scarce, the King’s Landing mentoring programme may be [Sansa's] best chance of survival.' Look beyond the dragons, monsters and funny names, and you’ll see that with its story of ambition, deceit, bravery, triumph, and disaster, the series has clear parallels with today’s business world' Tim Phillips and Rebecca Clare explore the comparisons between a ruling dynasty who have become more and more deranged with each passing generation and the modern world of today in which business leaders feel the need to put in a superhuman effort just to stay at the top.' Tim Phillips and Rebecca Clare, have hit the jackpot with this one' Rebecca [Clare], and co-author Tim Phillips, wrote Game of Thrones on Business after spotting the parallels between boardroom politics and the Lannister versus Stark politics. [...] “It’s a great way to realise that business can be quite exciting, and probably all those business books aren’t as dull as you think they are.”' 'Game of Thrones is more than dragons, broadswords, and ‘White Walkers’. Contained within the HBO series are many hidden leadership and management lessons that can be learned.' Daenerys has also acquired the services of experienced strategist Tyrion Lannister and continues to rely on Missandei. She may be growing queenlier by the day, but she is astute enough to realise she cannot rule alone'