Once again, the Game of Thrones phenomenon is sweeping the nation. This critically-acclaimed television show is back for another season on HBO, promising more drama and intrigue in the land of Westeros. Thousands of people are tuning in to find out what happens to the characters and clans they have come to love. Clearly, a lot of people are connecting with this show despite the fantastical setting.
Why? Because despite the dragons and direwolves, the characters and situations are still strikingly human and realistic. In fact, if you compare the power play in the Game of Thrones in the competitive business landscape today, you’re sure to find some remarkable similarities.
Don’t believe it? Here are some of the Game of Thrones characters and their general attitudes towards “winning the market” (in this case, The Seven Kingdoms):
Cersei Lannister
As the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei owes much of her power to alliances. When not receiving some kind of support from her (rather rich) family, she uses her political and social connections to stay in power. She is quite clever, but she relies too much on how she is perceived (against her rivals) instead of proving her worth upon her own merits.
Businessmen like Cersei Lannister tend to be prone to self-promotion and are often found schmoozing with politicians and other businessmen. They’re natural-born networkers, and this really does help their companies get great publicity – which isn’t bad for business. But businessmen like this also have trouble getting into the nitty-gritty of actually running an organization. It’s best if they work with partners who are inclined towards handling more practical details of day-to-day operations.
Daenerys Targaryen
As heir to the deposed royal family, Dany is on a quest to restore her family’s honor and to regain the throne for her bloodline. Thanks to her heritage, she possesses great power and inspires unwavering loyalty in many who meet her. But she is young and unsure of herself. While she knows what her goal is, she alternately careful and brash when making decisions towards achieving that goal.
Businessmen like Daenerys Targaryen are often young entrepreneurs who are either taking over their families’ businesses or reviving an old brand everyone once loved. They tend to have the power of the nostalgia factor, but they tend to struggle with updating the brand. Every move they make is questioned by both themselves and their supporters. Improvements such as updating work systems, upgrading equipment, and the like, are met with some resistance. It’s best if these businessmen surround themselves with experienced but progressive mentors.
Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger)
As a minor lord of a rather minor holding, Littlefinger doesn’t have much going for him save for his wits and his talent for making money. Motivated by a desire to prove that he is powerful, he makes use of all his resources as Master of the Coin to gain more influence for himself. He is recognized as a subtle (but major) disruptor in the traditional power plays of the rivals for the throne.
Businessmen like Petyr Baelish (who is himself an actual businessman) are the dark horses of the industry. They aren’t typically recognized as real competitors, a reputation which these disruptors use to their advantage. While bigger brands duke it out, this entrepreneur’s company changes the game completely. They are the ones who recognize the significance of new technology such as RingCentral VoIP phone service (like the others offered) and cloud storage (like the service offered by Box). It’s best if they work alone, supported by great staff.
So which Game of Thrones business personality are you?
