The dreadful part about being Machiavellian in the 21st century
is historical criticisms of the 16th-century political adviser rub
off on you. Condemned by those who have had the short end of the
power stick, the deceitful nature of Machiavelli's advice in The
Prince has been widely overblown. As a result, valuable
Machiavellian leadership philosophies have been deemed too devious
for leaders who regard themselves as wise and kind.
To help allay such fears, following are explanations of a few of
Machiavelli's precepts to encourage their consideration and use by
emotionally intelligent leaders.
Is it better to be loved or feared? The answer, of course, is
both! But Machiavelli deems love fickle and says leaders who
inspire fear will find themselves taken more seriously.
Unpredictable punishments can evoke undesirable apprehension, but
justified penalties for real cause hold the true power of fear. In
fact, modern psychological theory suggests justified rewards for
real cause are...
Log in or register for FREE access to this article and other Professional Roofing online content.