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Leadership styles and its impact
Leadership styles and its impact
Leadership styles and its impact
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Leadership styles and its impact
Leadership styles and its impact
Leadership styles and its impact
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In comparison, Machiavelli explains that the prince should be in control and lead with his military instead of with his people. However, Machiavelli believes the prince’s power should not be forced, because it will never succeed.
Machiavelli believes that prudence, prowess and adaptation play a big role in maintaining power. The prince must always be one step ahead of changing times by making smart decisions. Once the prince masters fortune he holds his faith in his own hands unable to be undermined by changing times and circumstances. Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" as a guide for non-elected sovereign rulers looking to achieve the ultimate political goal of life. Therefore, as most non-elected systems are unstable and if not ruled prudently will come to their demise.
Henry represents the beast because he ruthlessly invades France and “mow[s] like grass/ [their] fresh fair virgins and [their] flow’ring infants” (Henry V, 3.3.13-14). He threatens these atrocities to frighten the people and secure power. Imitating “the action of the tiger” initiates war (Henry V, 3.1.6). Machiavelli encourages violence to instill fear and gain faith because “fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails” (The Prince, 61). A prince’s “end justifies the means,” arguing that the path to power does not matter but only the results (The Prince, 66).
People could not speak up or challenge what the Prince had to say. However, in today’s society approval from the people is much more important for a leader. Word gets around fast through innovations in communication, and dissatisfied people are more able to organize and rise up against leaders. For this reason, leaders should be more concerned with being loved by their people than being
The Prince is based around the need for bold, prompt plans, the need of action, and the handling of politics as a science, full of rules and conditions. Machiavelli explains that “a prince must be both human and beast, and as beast he must be both lion and fox. He must embrace the flaws of humanity; he must rely on both thought and action; he must look to the past as he heads toward the future.” I enjoyed how Machiavelli simplified things in order to better understand them. There were two quotes that I rather enjoyed, Machiavelli wrote, “Then virtue boldly shall engage/And swiftly vanquish barbarous rage/Proving that ancient and heroic pride/
If a prince is cruel just for the sake being cruel he will only cause people to hate him and hatred towards a prince will not end well for him. To avoid hate he should avoid unnecessary cruelty. He must stay away from his subjects ' property and avoid interfering and messing with married women. He can be a feared and an admired leader without being overly cruel. Machiavelli expresses that, “…a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated…” (79).
In chapter XVII of The Prince, N. Machiavelli discusses the topic of cruelty and whether it is better for a ruler to be loved or feared. Machiavelli asserts the idea that if you are king, it is going to be quite impossible for all people to like you further emphasizing the idea that it is better to be feared. If a king needs to be cruel to maintain power, then so be it. One characteristic he expresses in this chapter is the ability to make decisions quickly without the influence of personal feelings. He believes a prince should be able to act ruthlessly if necessary, without hesitation.
The trick to staying in control was to recognize the needs of the people. The argument that Machiavelli portrayed in the Prince, was how an individual handles a situation, whether it is serendipitous luck or free will. “Many believe that governing the affairs of the world are governed by luck and God, not even intelligent individuals can control them. Therefore, one should allow chance to have its way” (Machiavelli, 550). Elaborating on this argument, many people believe that if something goes wrong, gamble on luck.
In Chapters six through nine, Machiavelli tackles the issue of the prince acquiring totally new principalities. Conquests by virtue is the theme Machiavelli presents in Chapter six. He cites the example of Moses as a conquering prince, who delivered orders from God. According to Machiavelli in Chapter seven, a prince can come into power by luck or by powerful figures within the regime. The prince typically has an easier time gaining power but a hard time keeping it thereafter, because his power is extremely dependent on his benefactors ' goodwill.
Ruling through fear was by all means a must as it was regarded as a way to instill ones will on their subjects. He says, "it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved.." (The Prince XVII). Humanism centers around the maintenance of oneself and well-being, which is not too far from the ideals The Prince bases itself on. Self maintenance through any means necessary; violence, deceit and corruption.
If a prince does so, this loyalty will only be temporary or the subjects will learn to only be loyal to the prince’s money. It is necessary for a prince to wipe out his opponents and make sure it is done all at once. Even when a prince is not successful in ruling by his personal prowess during his own existence, he is establishing an excellent foundation for the rule of subsequent princes which is as significant if not more significant than the current prince’s success. Chapter 8 explains what degree of evil should be exemplified in order to ascend to power. Machiavelli delivers clear insight to the readers about the specific advantages and disadvantages of achieving power by ways of evil and in what cases to use this evil to your advantage.
For these reasons, he should turn to his own arms. By all means, Machiavelli stated that it is not fortune and wickedness which leads to a good prince; it is intelligence and skills which are important. To be specific, he can try to strengthen its own military to defeat his nation during war rather than concerning himself relies on others. Moreover, a prince should be himself and do not change. To illustrate, he should live with his people so that any unexpected circumstances will not make him change whether the situation is good or bad.
According to him, rulers should know their respective limits when it comes to the force and violence they inflict. Machiavelli believes that maximizing betrayal, deception and other cruel acts aren’t considered talents. Although these methods are effective in gaining empire, these don’t help in getting glory. Therefore, using violence and cruelty may be necessary but should have limits. The prince must know up to what extent his violence should be inflicted upon and he must do it all at once to avoid the hatred and resentment from his
Probably one of the most infamous and controversial ideologies of the 16th century, the prince by Machiavelli has been a reference for many great leaders and academicians since it was published. The book provides historically tested and proven principles of leadership. The prince has been described as a manual for those who want to win and retain power. While some may argue that leadership is an inherent trait in human, leaders are made, not born. Making a great leader out of a person is not just a matter of identifying the leadership traits, skill and talents of the individual, but harnessing the traits, develop them and eventually mastering how to be leader.
He cannot be too generous, because that increases people 's expectations of him and it is impossible to keep buying the people 's love as the price gets too high. Yet, the prince should not be hated due to his violent nature, because that rises up. The prince should act in ways that keep him in power and maintain his own power. He should be able to read the character and motives of others in order to use them for his own ends.