7 Business lessons from Game of Thrones

Fire (and ice) breathing dragons, black magic, THE WALKING DEAD, excessive violence. The existence of these elements can make its watchers think of it as an unrealistic fantasy drama. But on the other side, a good chunk of watchers understand its connection to reality. Game of Thrones imparts a score of strategies, etiquette, and mantras that well relates to business.

Few business lessons that can be reaped and imbibed for today’s businesses are down below

1. Recognizing priorities & think for the future

When Jon Snow becomes Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, his primary point of concern should have been eliminating the wildlings. Instead, he led talks with them and made them into reliable allies by foreseeing and pressing the dangers of the Army of the dead. So, he set aside the priorities set by the masses and went on with his will. This helped him to end the enmity with wildings, made them as allies and expand his army to fight the Night King.

Even in business, it is wise to recognize the priorities, think about the future and act accordingly.

2. Constant training against all odds

We all know Arya Stark. The transformation and the annals that she has faced were dreadful. Her father’s head was cut down in front of her, her family was ripped apart. The aftermath of these incidents left her with one and only aim. Revenge. Since then she has travelled places, been in jail, been blinded. She underwent all of these as a part of her gruesome training to finally become the best assassin (No one) in Westeros and strike her kill list.

This gives a business lesson that no matter the hardships we face, we should constantly learn, stay on track and commit to the aim.

3. Think outside the box..? There is no box

Tyrion Lannister is one of the most interesting characters still surviving in Game of Thrones. He has always had a knack to getting in trouble and always had the intelligence to find a way out. From convincing his buyer in an auction to multiple accounts of ‘trial by combat’ he has found a way to survive using his sheer wits. He has acted by the words ‘Think outside the box..? There is no box at all’.

Just like Tyrion, people in business should understand that there is no box or no limit to contain thoughts. The limitless possibility of thinking potential can be converted into any favorable outcome and become the desired.

4. Integrity & ethics

Robb Stark broke his promise of marrying Walder Frey’s daughter. This act of breaking the promise by Robb motivated Walder Frey to join Lannisters to plot the Red Wedding. This one act of losing integrity has killed Robb= and his family (Rains of Castamere playing).

Similarly in business, maintaining integrity and ethics is very important to survival. It may not necessarily earn anything, but sure will save from falling down or worse being destroyed.

5. Pay off debts

Lannisters always pay their debts. Cersei Lannister is the queen of King’s Landing and has a large army at her disposal. She owes a big debt to the Iron Bank. She had all the power to blow up the Iron bank just like the Sept of Baelor. But, she chose to pay up. This act has restored the belief of Iron Bank on her and they agreed to back her in hiring The Golden Company to fight the war.

It is always better to have a positive credit rating and pay all the debts as fast as possible. Succumbing to debts constricts new possibilities of business and thereby hindering growth.

6. Respect your employees

Dracarysss…..

The scene of Danerys Targaryen trading one of her dragons for the Unsullied slave army was unforgettable. She gets the hold of the whip that controls the slave army after burning all the masters. She could have used that enslave the army to her all her life; instead, she chose to respect the Unsullied and freed them of their bonds. This act of her has won the respect and love of Unsullied which eventually helped her to win many wars. A perfect example of a leader.

Likewise, the leader who enslaves gets only the labor for the pay. But the leader who respects receives labor, passion, respect which propels the leader and the employees to greater heights.

7. Anybody can get killed

This is one of the most important lessons Game of Thrones has taught the viewers. People came to know the actual face of Game of Thrones only when Ned Stark’s head was cut down. Anybody can get killed or destroyed. Time leaves no Good or Great people. Jaime Lannister was one of the most feared Swordsmen in Westeros but got his hand cut off in a simple incident in an unexpected way. Robert Baratheon, who crushed the Targaryen dynasty, was killed by a boar while hunting!

So, business leaders should constantly safeguard and reinvent themselves by possessing the wit and instinct to survive. Anything can happen and anything can go wrong at any time to anyone. So it is the duty of the business owners to be prepared for all outcomes. Nobody wants to be a modern-day example of Kodak.

These are some of the mantras of the medieval period that applies very well to the present and times to come. Learning for businesses does not need to come only from personality development sessions. Businesses can have takeaways from the routine incidents and shows like GOT.