The Prince

1. Think about your current job or a position of influence you hold. How did you acquire it? What combination of ability, fortune, and others' support got you there?

2. Machiavelli says there are only republics and principalities—group rule or single-person rule. In modern companies, which is more common? Which is more effective?

3. Have you ever seen a new leader come in and change things that were working perfectly well? What happened?

4. Machiavelli says hereditary rulers can 'deal prudently with circumstances as they arise.' What's the difference between prudent adaptation and reckless change?

5. Have you ever been part of an acquisition, merger, or team reorganization? What did the new leadership do well or poorly?

6. Machiavelli says 'He who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined.' Do you agree? Can you think of examples?

7. How does organizational stability appear in modern organizations?

8. Think of a time when understanding stable succession, loyalty structures, centralized vs distributed power would have helped you navigate a difficult situation.

9. How does governing the independent appear in modern organizations?

10. Think of a time when understanding autonomy, culture clash, integration strategies would have helped you navigate a difficult situation.

11. How does self-made leadership appear in modern organizations?

12. Think of a time when understanding entrepreneurship, self-reliance, building from nothing would have helped you navigate a difficult situation.

13. How does fortune and others' power appear in modern organizations?

14. Think of a time when understanding dependency, borrowed power, fragile authority would have helped you navigate a difficult situation.

15. How does ruthless ascent appear in modern organizations?