Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than
loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to
unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either
must be dispensed with.” – Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince”, Chapter XVII
Nick’s take on the priorities of power echo in every situation where leadership is required. In the end, enforcing effective systems and strategies takes precedent over personal popularity.
Anyone with academic credentials in business knows the drill. The core of business administration courses offered by respected universities worldwide is almost invariably focused on how to be an effective leader. We’re taught to take control and that’s okay; a ship without a captain is never going to get far – somebody has to be at the helm.
Yet most graduates gloss over or forget the parts about people skills and maintaining the personal respect of reasonable staff. It’s easy to forget Nick Machiavelli’s main point: being a strong leader with favorability among those under management is the ideal. It’s only when a one or the other situation exists that “fear” as he calls it is preferred over “love.”
Of course, even Nick M. was aware of the difficulties in doing both. Effective leadership performed with both respect and likability among staff is a seemingly impossible task.
Yet if there is a singular go-to “golden” path to accomplishing both, it’s through humor, plain and simple.
Engaging employees with no-nonsense expectations and enforcing rules doesn’t make people inherently dislike a leader. Ask any former military person and they’re unlikely to speak negatively of their drill sergeant and other commanding personnel, despite the high likelihood of these leaders being unprecedentedly strict and in control.
What gets people not liking leaders is when leaders seem unrelatable. The commands, requests, and critiques appear to be coming from a robot without any positive emotions.
The cure to this is invariably humor. Now, humor sounds more complicated than it really is: we’re not talking about putting on a comedy act. Nor are we really talking about jokes, either.
Humor in the workplace is about making observations which appeal to a coworker’s humanity and help put them at ease. It doesn’t require a punchline, just a relaxed demeanor, and honest approach.
Almost invariably, this leads to higher favorability among staff, while preserving leadership strength.
Again, let it known there is a fine line here. Ethics and rules in the work environment ought to be enforced, despite popularity or lack thereof. And nobody feels comfortable around someone performing a schtick but not owning up to it. Authenticity is key to appealing humor.
The debate as to whether it’s better to be feared or loved when in a position of leadership is one which rages into the 21st century despite having origins in the Renaissance. If there is a way to reach Nick Machiavelli’s ideal of being a leader both “loved” and “feared” it’s through humor.
