Leadership Improvement Idea

“What the f*** is your plan? Mustard packs.” -- Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri, HBO’s “The Sopranos”

As many of you know or may not know, I’m a huge (fanatical might be a better word) fan of “The Sopranos,” in part because it appeals to my love of Jersey and my Italian heritage but mostly because of the quality of the character development and the great writing that made each show special.

Season 3 was one of my favorites. It had great writing, great characters (Can Gloria Trillo, I mean Annabella Sciorra, make “Eight in the Box”?) and some of the best episodes ever.

Episode 37, “Pine Barrens,” is a classic, definitely a favorite episode and where the above quote originates. The plot line centers on the concept of a very simple plan that goes awry.

The first fundamental rule of leadership is “Management of Attention.” This means you must have a plan, one that can achieve the goals set forth. Now, as we can see from the misadventures of Paulie and Christopher in the Pine Barrens, just having a plan doesn’t always work. You must have the right plan.

How can you be assured that your plan can work? Warren Buffett once said, “I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” Therefore, a great plan comes from completely understanding what it takes to be successful.

The best answer for all of us is to pay very close attention to the mistakes in our professional field. In football, the best way to formulate plans on and off the field comes from watching other successful operations work, or from learning from the mistakes of others.

Since learning from mistakes helps leaders, the Harvard Business Review provides a list of 10 fatal flaws that can derail them:

1. Lack energy and enthusiasm: Paulie had planned to take his mother to the social security office, so this job was an inconvenience.

2. Accept own mediocre performance: Paulie had a bad attitude before doing the job; he felt the job was beneath his stature in the family.

3. Lack clear vision and direction: Had no clear understanding of the task at hand, or how he would perform the task. Decided to just “wing it.”

4. Have poor judgment: Dropped the Russian’s universal remote control on the floor, which started all the problems.

5. Don’t collaborate: Ignored Chrissie’s request to behave when first dealing with the Russian.

6. Don’t walk the talk: Walked in a circle in the Pine Barrens, which resulted in not being able to find his way out.

7. Resist new ideas: Paulie would not listen to Chrissie’s idea to stop in the Roy Rogers for a bite to eat.

8. Don’t learn from mistakes: The Russian was tougher than they first thought.

9. Lack interpersonal skills: Four years in the Army didn’t help Paulie develop a plan that would work.

10. Fail to develop others: “This guy can never come back to tell this story” were the words of wisdom Paulie received from Tony as this bad plan kept unfolding and unraveling.

Watch “Pine Barrens” and you can see that Paulie as leader was 10 for 10 on each item from the Harvard Business Review. We can learn how to be better leaders from HIS failed leadership.