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3 Lessons In Leadership From The Godfather Trilogy



It is no secret that The Godfather Trilogy is one of if not the best collection of movies ever. One thing I have picked up is that it contains many lessons if you pay attention. I often watch over and over

again to gain crucial insight on leadership. In no way do I believe that running a criminal enterprise is morally or ethically correct however, the lessons on leadership can help any leader sharpen their skills. I could name lessons for days that I've picked up from the trilogy but here are my top 3.

1. Always be willing to step outside of your comfort zone.

Let's be honest. If Michael Corleone doesn't step up to the plate to meet with the people who tried to kill his father the movie is over! The entire set up for Michael Corleone to become the biggest mob boss in movie history is based off the college student and military man stepping out of his comfort zone to meet the task at hand. In day to day business I pray no one reading this has to avenge the attempted murder of their father, but stepping out of your comfort zone is the first step to doing anything big. One thing that all successful people have as a defining moment is stepping out of their comfort zone. It could be stepping up to make the big sales pitch for the company, maybe standing in front of a room of seasoned investors selling your new idea, or something as simple as picking up the phone making cold calls for your new business. Whatever your comfort zone is, success is waiting outside of it. Michael so a task that needed to be done and over came his own comfort and changed his direction forever. It's a lesson he continued to investing in Las Vegas, to the deal in Havana, to eventually making a deal with the Vatican Bank. Always be willing to step out of your comfort zone in order to move forward.

2. Being A Leader Involves Dealing With Difficult Conversations and Situations

By Godfather II Michael Corleone was very powerful yet had a mole in his camp that could have cost him and his family their lives. After taking heed to another hidden lesson if you let a fool talk long enough they will tell you everything you need to know, he found out the mole was his own brother Fredo. Fredo not being the brightest of The Corleone men was an easy target Michael's enemies. They could prey on Fredo wanting his own power and get the information they needed to plot against Michael. Eventually Michael had to eliminate the problem and have his own brother murdered. Now please don't read this and run out and kill your business partner or bad employee but, do deal with the difficult situations that may be effecting your business. Sometimes friendships with partners are bad for business. Sometimes we get attached to employees. There are many situations that we can be emotionally blinded by and not make the best business decisions. Just keep in mind that being a leader is full of difficult situations that are not just going away on there on.

3. Know Your Value When Negotiating But Always Think With A Clear Mind

One of the most famous lines from The Godfather was "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." When you know your value you can be confident in your negotiations. It doesn't mean go put a horse head in the bed of the person you are negotiating against, just now what you bring to the table and don't be afraid to stand firm to your value. However don't let your emotions get the best of you when negotiating. By Godfather III Michael Corleone was grooming his nephew Vincent and told him a great lesson "Don't hate your enemies, it clouds your judgment." It is very human to be emotional when you feel like somebody is threatening your lively hood and as an entrepreneur each deal you make is how you maintain. Never let your emotion cloud your business judgment. Always try your best to remove all emotion from business decisions. Maybe your supplier wants to raise prices. Remain calm and think. You may be able to negotiate an even better deal than you currently have if you can clearly find an angle where your value is more important to the supplier. An emotional mind is clouded and makes poor judgment calls. So stay calm, know your value and remember it business not personal.

I could go on and on with lessons but don't take my word for it. Next time you have a day to relax and learn some great lessons, pop in The Godfather Trilogy and treat yourself to the greatest movie collection ever and some great tips on leadership.

by Juan Braxton for Don Style Solutions

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