Game of Leaders (Theory 11)

The Game of Thrones are comprised of a multitude of leaders, good and bad. In season 7 episode 4 and 5 we have mainly Jon Snow, Cersei, and Daenerys. Here is my interpretation of their leadership styles and I will back it up with the evidence of their actions throughout these two episodes. Jon Snow is a leader not because he was born one, but because of this action to do what is best for his people in the North. He is more of a theory Y leader or a Team Leader. Cersei rules by being feared. She is a theory X leader or Authoritarian. Lastly, there is Daenerys who is more of a theory Y leader with those who follow her willingly and a theory X with those who do not. I would classify her as a Team Leader but also as an Authoritarian when needed to be.

Jon Snow is more of a theory Y leader. He takes into consideration his people and what is best for them with every decision he makes. He is not interested in the Iron Throne and half of the time he isn’t interested in being King of the North. All he wants is to stop the army of the White Walkers who threaten to end all of humanity. Dramatic, I know. So, he goes to Daenerys to convince her to help him fight off their true enemy, the army of the dead. But she refuses to do so until he decides to bend the knee. With his people in mind and the thought of the true enemy, he refuses and says “my people will not take kindly to a Southern leader, after everything they have suffered.” He holds his ground in the best interest of his people by refusing to submit himself and his people to a ruler who has not done anything to deserve their loyalty. He came to her knowing that she could kill him, but that it was still the best chance for his people, for all their people, to survive. Furthermore, in is efforts to gain allies and to make people believe that the dead are coming and that they are all their true enemies. Jon Snow decides to lead a group of men outside of the wall to capture and bring one white walker to show the rulers that they are real and that they are a threat. While outside of the wall, they get surrounded and Daenerys comes to save them. Jon Snow stays behind to fend off and distract the dead so the others can get away. Jon Snow’s dedication to destroying the White walkers and doing whatever must be done to band all the living together to fight them off shows Level 5 Leadership behavior. He is humble, hence not wanting a title nor caring about it, and furiously driven, hence he willingness to do whatever it is that needs to be done.

Cersei has always led by installing fear within her followers. She is also cunning and conniving, which is why she has been so successful in remaining on the Iron Throne. There is no denying that Cersei plays the game of thrones very well.

Though, she comes off as evil and cold, she is dedicated full-heartedly to protecting the Lannister dynasty. These two episodes did not show much of the leadership style behaviors I talked about, because she was not shown much. However, you can see behaviors of a Level 1 leader, a highly capable individual who “makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills, and good work habits.” When the odds are stacked against her, she refuses to go down without a fight. Her brother Jamie tries to convince her that it is in her best interest, and their people’s, for her to surrender, but her concern is the Lannister dynasty and continuing to reign over Westeros. She always finds another way. Loses her army, no worries, she buys a new one. Facing a dragon, no biggie, she will find a weapon big enough to destroy one (however later in the episode we find that it did not work). Cersei’s behaviors are all directed and dedicated to her goal if continuing to be queen.

Daenerys style began as participative in season 7, taking advice from the other leaders who are her allies, her right-hand Tyrion, and her other advisors. Then they all would come up with a decision. But when she loses all her allies due to the advice she took, she takes on more of an authoritarian style when it comes to making decisions, by ignoring her advisors and taking her matters into her own hands. She decides to take her dragons to the Red Keep and when Tyrion objects she says “My enemies are in the Red Keep. What kind of a queen am I, if I am not willing to risk my life to fight them.” Daenerys is not afraid to get in the thick of it all and put herself in danger. She takes her army, along with her one of her dragons, and together they destroy the army the destroyed her allies, illustrating the behavior of a Team Leader. After burning the enemy’s army to crisps. She gives the survivors a choice, to bend the knee and join her or refuse and die. Which when you reeeaaally think about it, makes it not much of a choice. I feel this type of leadership style strays away from the from the theory Y and Team Leader because relationship is no longer a factor in her leadership behavior. I would say she turned more towards an Authoritarian style. Anyways, needless to say, the few who did not

kneel did not have a pleasant ending. Daenerys is close to being a Leader 5 leader, with her ambition and drive. However, she lacks the humility. She uses her title to claim her birth right. Sometimes she earns it, like when she freed thousands from slavery, and sometimes she demands it, like how she refuses to help Jon Snow until he bends the knee.