Ask Yourself, What Would Machiavelli Do?

The Prince - Machiavelli, 1513

When we here the name "Machiavelli" or the term "Machiavellian" used to describe someone, it is often considered a negative attribute or characteristic. Famous for his (a)moral stance of "the ends justify the means," Machiavelli has become a symbol for unethical or shady practices, both in business and life decisions.

In his book, "The Prince," Machiavelli outlines many of the principals on which he based his seemingly ruthless approach to diplomacy and leadership. He stresses the need for appearance over quality, force over reason, and stealth over honesty.

Although these tactics are overtly frowned upon in today's business world, they are nevertheless used effectively. For instance, if a top manager projects confidence, he or she has a greater ability to garner employee trust and loyalty. This in turn could lead to higher productivity, less employee turnover, and a general state of well-being for the company...regardless of whether or not the manager is actually confident in themselves or the company.

Interestingly, as more organizations push for an open, honest, and supportive company culture, employees are becoming happier and more productive, leading to higher profits. (Robbins, 2005) It is possible then to assume that if Machiavelli were alive today, he would choose to appear "nicer" or "more supportive" to his followers or employees, as this type of "means" would produce the most effective and lucrative "ends." Therefore, being called Machiavellian might not be so bad after all.

Sources:

Crainer, Stuart. The Ultimate Business Library. Capstone Publishing Limited, March 2006.

Robbins, Stephen P., Coulter, Mary. Management, Eight Ed. Pearson Education, Inc., 2005. Ch. 3.