Power Plays: Shakespeare's Lessons in Leadership and Management Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Power Plays: Shakespeare's Lessons in Leadership and Management Book

The great Bard's influence has always been broad and far-reaching, but his insightful commentary on all forms of power and politics in his plays has made William Shakespeare the current darling of the management theory set. Power Plays stands out as an interesting and useful look at what Shakespeare has to teach leaders about the use and abuse of power, the skills of communication and persuasion crucial to a leader's success in achieving objectives, and reconciling and balancing values and responsibilities. The coauthoring duo of Whitney and Packer is effective. John Whitney, a professor at the Columbia Business School, former CEO, and veteran of corporate startup and turnaround ventures, combines his professional knowledge of the business arena and his personal love of Shakespeare's plays with the dramatic experience and analytical insight of Tina Packer, the founder and president of Massachusetts's thriving Shakespeare and Company. Much of Whitney and Packer's interpretive skill lies in their ability to do just that--interpret effectively. Rather than merely attaching the human strengths and weaknesses exemplified by Shakespearean characters to any and every corporate success or failure they can pull out of the bag, the authors conduct careful examinations of exactly what it is that the playwright is attempting to convey. Only after demonstrating a perceptive grasp of the underlying messages of the dramatic action do they then apply that insight to contemporary, real-life businesspeople and environments. The messages range from the seemingly obvious though often ignored comments on power--"Use It Wisely or Lose It"--to the subtle complexities surrounding the development of an Iago character bent on evil revenge. The applications include examples from the authors' own experiences, as well as touching briefly on those of leaders such as Katherine Graham at the Washington Post, Larry Bossidy at Allied Signal, and the business consultant Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Though not often extensive explorations on their own, together the messages and applications offer engaging, informative lessons for leaders and managers in any environment. --S. KetchumRead More

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  • Product Description

    What can Shakespeare teach us about effective leadership? Everything, according to John Whitney, former president of Pathmark Supermarkets and now a leading professor at Columbia Business School, and Tina Packer, founder, president, and artistic director of the critically acclaimed theater group Shakespeare & Company. Whether we are dealing with an indecisive Hamlet or a corporate Lear, this innovative approach to management helps us tap the timeless wisdom and profitable genius of the Bard.

    The issues fueling the intricate plots of Shakespeare's 400-year-old plays are the same common yet complex issues that business leaders contend with today. And, as Whitney and Packer so convincingly demonstrate, no one but the Bard himself can penetrate the secrets of leadership with such piercing brilliance. Let him instruct you on the issues that managers face every day:


  • POWER: Who wants it, who has it, who lost it? Richard II's fall from power can enlighten us, as can Jamie Dimon, who lost out at Citigroup, or Gary Wendt,who was asked to resign as CEO of GE Capital.

  • COMMUNICATION: Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage," and no writer has a deeper grasp of the power of performance. Leadership is theater. Learn how to feel comfortable in the leadership role and communicate effectively.

  • TRUST: Every leader needs to know whom to trust, why, and how to earn trust. Draw on the experiences of King Lear and Othello, as well as John Sculley when he lost at Apple Computer.

  • DECISION: Understand what causes one to falter or "freeze up" when making crucial decisions. Hamlet illustrates the do's and don'ts of decision making.

  • ACTION: Decision without action is useless. See why Henry IV and Jack Welch from GE were effectiveand why Richard II, Henry VI, and Robert Allen from AT&T were not when it came down to putting ideas into action.

  • HIERARCHY: When a leader enters or takes over an existing group, this inherently invites conflict. Explore Henry IV and see the parallels that can be drawn for every leader, manager, or follower who is promoted or transferred or has changed companies. Know where the pitfalls lie in these situations and learn how to avoid them.

  • WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT: A look at Rosalind's success in As You Like It and Desdemona's failure in Othello will help you to understand what women uniquely offer and what it takes for women to succeed in business.

John Whitney and Tina Packer do not simply compare Shakespeare's plays with management techniques, but rather draw on their own wealth of business experience to show us how these essential Shakespearean lessons can be applied to modern-day challenges. Power Plays infuses the world of business with new life -- and plenty of drama.

  • 0684868873
  • 9780684868875
  • John O. Whitney, Tina Packer
  • 26 June 2000
  • Simon & Schuster Ltd
  • Hardcover (Book)
  • 316
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