Game of Thrones - A Business Leader's Guide

Tyrion Lannister played by Peter Dinklage

Game of Thrones (GOT) by HBO is based on a book series by George R. R. Martin. It's a series that I've read (and anxiously wait for the next installment), and now a show that is (almost) appointment television. The story is intricate and detailed, the dialogue superb, and the actors are fantastic. What more could I ask for?

How about some leadership lessons? Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so, because Fortune Magazine just published an article about it (entitled: Game of Thrones: A Business Leader's Guide, picture included). WARNING THE LINK  and BELOW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

While the article contains some leadership lessons (such as determining which promises you can break, cultivating middle management, and being right isn't always enough) there are many more lessons involved here.

An argument could be made for taking advantage of an opportunity (as the Greyjoys did by attacking the North)? How about obligations of family vs. work (the internal struggle of Rob Stark as he tries to keep his banner-man together even after his mother released a valued prisoner who killed some of the sons of these banner-man, solely to save her own children from being hostages)?

One of the ones that rings true for me is the Night's Watch and maintaining obligations. The Watch has fallen on hard times because the people protected by it don't see what it is the Watch really does for them. In a manner of speaking, I can see this happening with the military today, when only 1% of the population actually serves (the NY Times had an article about it) and more people seem to be concerned with American Idol than the post 9-11 wars that (although winding down) now stretch past a decade.

Needless to say, this is only the very tip of the iceberg. I am honestly considering discussing the leadership lessons of each episode of GOT. What do you think?