In a politically correct age and an era of influence (rather than power), leaders often communicate indirectly and through inference. Many executives have a tendency to turn specific commands into general requests or to moderate their criticism to the point that direct reports aren’t clear about their mistakes. People are so afraid of stepping on someone else’s toes that they end up being overly timid or obscure in their communication. They also may fail to communicate to the right people at the right time, avoiding unpleasant situations by keeping their mouths shut. Some leaders commit the sin of talking too much, attempting to substitute quantity for quality and overwhelming listeners with their verbal barrages.
Tony Soprano commits none of these sins. Though his communication style isn’t flawless—at times he can be too direct and intimidating when making a point—it is highly effective in a variety of situations. Many leaders today have moved away from the command-and-control, authoritative style to a softer, consensus-driven approach, and they may well have gone too far in this soft direction. Tony’s style is a refreshing change, but he balances his hard-guy stance with empathy and, most important, authenticity. Let’s start out by understanding exactly what Tony’s style entails.