HBO’s hit drama Succession follows the Roy family as they squabble (and backstab) their way to the top of their father’s media empire Waystar Royco. Based loosely on the Murdoch family (with plenty of other business scion source material mixed in), Succession yields a lot of career development lessons. Throughout the series, each of the three Roy children (there’s actually four kids – but Connor – the oldest – is off on a ridiculous quest to run for President) and dad showcase all sorts of things to avoid doing when it comes to leadership.. Here are three leadership lessons from Succession.
Listen wisely
The theme of the day in Succession is bad kids (and hangers on) who are in way over their heads, making massive (and flawed) decisions around their father’s company. We see it in Kendall, as he muddles about spouting corporate mumbo-jumbo bullshit while trying to convince investors, staff and board members of his vision of the future. We see it with Tom as he makes his first maneuvers in ATN (aka Fox News) to “cut the fat”, the day he walks in the door as its new director. And we see it with Shiv Roy as she works on maneuvering herself into the big job with a memo that falls flat and is roundly ridiculed by just about everyone on the Roy corporate jet for her clear lack of understanding of the family business.
The key learning from all of this is to take the time to understand the organization you are seeking to lead before making big changes. Asking a lot of questions, sitting in with the team (even if you have your own office), digesting past practices and pouring through analytics will all help you gather an understanding that will support wiser moves. This usually takes time and unless you have other pressures demanding immediate or rapid movement, take the time to learn before you start playing with the trains.
Fear doesn’t motivate
Logan Roy sees fear in the same way as love. He uses fear to intimidate enemies and friends and you get the sense that toxic culture bread by fear of the leader is baked into the work-culture of many of the company’s subsidiaries. We see how he utilizes fear and humiliation in the distorted “team building’ exercises of “Boor on the Floor”, the sadistic game Logan cooks up between appetizer and dinner to terrorize his senior management and children. The result is humiliation and it’s hard to imagine any normal employee – or person – would return to their roles with a morale boost, buzzing to put in new initiative and energy to help build the Roy Empire.
More likely, you’d have lawsuits, anonymous leaks (ironic as this might be given the context of the game), and ultimately job hunting by his team. Fear and pure authority can sometimes feel like the easiest way to enforce your will as a leader – but long term it corrodes the metal of your organization and will sap your effectiveness. While Logan can try to compensate for his mendacity with ridiculous salaries – for most of us, a toxic work culture (bred often from fear and loathing of the powers that be) will repulse talent and sap efficiency and effectiveness.
Authenticity matters
Throughout the first season of Succession, we get multiple episodes where Kendall games his way around in an effort to take over the company from the weakened claws of his father. Kendall makes assumptions that he would be the natural heir and the season culminates with some pretty impressive maneuvering at the Board room table. While Kendall can build some momentum for his bid, throughout the story – and certainly in the following season – its hard not to smirk as he commands underlings and spouts his muddled business vision to those who will listen. There’s no truth there. Instead, Kendall comes across as inauthentic and weak.
No-one really believes Kendall has earned his stature at the top of the empire and the lack of authenticity in the leadership he is offering makes his pronouncements ring hollow. True leadership requires authenticity – you need to have legitimacy. People need to respect you and believe you know what you are doing.
One of the best ways to do this (in addition to knowing what you are talking about) is to engage and incorporate the ideas and aspirations of lieutenants and peers around you. Building your own validity in service of not only your own goals but others is a great way to build authenticity and trust. It’s something the Roys could only dream to do (except of course Logan – who is authentically as terrible as anyone could imagine).