Articles—Issue 23, June 2007
Leadership According to Tony Soprano:
Moving from Hit Man to Boss
I spoke with someone last week about the fact (if I were younger, I’d call it an opinion but I’m old enough to have witnessed this many times so will call it a fact) that at senior management levels, it is rarely technical skills that keep someone employed or allow them to make progress through the work of others; it is about 75% “soft” skills.
The Cornerstones of Success™ (Regis Learning Solutions) has comparative data on over 28,000 people and measures 6 “soft skills” that lead to success: 1) clarity, 2) one-on-one communication, 3) group communication, 4) open-mindedness, 5) conflict management, 6) valuing others, 7) giving feedback, and 8) influencing others. Whether individual performer or C-level executive, this is a great list of skills to acquire.
Even in Tony Soprano’s organization he rarely has to utilize his “technical” skills. When he wins, it is through negotiation, motivational techniques, strategy and execution. An occasional “whack” or deep dive into the front-line activity is to ensure alignment or for morale purposes. His vision is clear, his reward system is aligned with his goals, he has a good system for accountability and he clearly understands his competition. Putting his psychosis aside…this is a pretty good list!
Examples of the relative importance of soft skills over technical skills are everywhere. Look at U.S. presidents and their ability to get things done. (The fact that I compare them to a mobster is purely coincidental.) Jimmy Carter was perhaps the best human being to occupy the office, but struggled to get anything accomplished. Others with great communication skills (like Clinton and Reagan) were able to accomplish much more.
Along with Leadership according to Genghis Kahn, Abraham Lincoln, Lee Iacocca and Jesus, I am sure that there will be a book about Tony Soprano’s leadership style in the near future if it doesn’t already exist. See if there is a chapter on “soft skills” before you buy it.
(c)2007 by Tood Ordal. You are welcome to share this informational article with others.
Todd Ordal is a business consultant helping executives struggling with execution. Prior to founding the consulting firm Applied Strategy LLC, Todd spent over 25 years in management and executive roles such as President and CEO. You can contact Todd at todd@appliedstrategy.info