Managing people and relationships is vital to any business' success. Lack of proper management of people and relationship will indefinitely result in failure. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a masterpiece regarding the strategic relationships between the people involved in his line of work as a prince in his book, appropriately titled the Prince. The Prince addresses the issues surrounding the governing of principalities, particularly the relationships dealing with people (common folk as well as nobles, axis and allies) and how those relationships affect the success of the city-state(s). Managing these relationships efficiently results in success, much like the business world of today. The situations incurred in war (as in Machiavelli's case centuries ago) and those incurred in business (as in an IT Manager's case of today), are quite similar in nature when it comes to dealing with people. Let us examine the qualities necessary for success, using the Prince as a foundation fo!
             r proper practice as a leader in the modern business world environment.
             In the introduction of the Prince, editor Daniel Donno recognizes that Machiavelli sought out solutions in order to keep his homeland secure, even if Machiavelli himself did not know the direct answer. It wasn't above Machiavelli to look for a solution using a more competent or authoritative source. This asset of managing his business (his state) by seeking a solution even though he hadn't the answer himself is vital for today's company leaders. The modern CEO, CFO, etc., should take note that you mustn't necessarily know the answer to every problem, but you should be able to find a solution to any problem that arises, even if it means asking for help from another member of your team.
             Machiavelli sought out to hear his people's complaints and praises by mingling with the common-folk, as evidenced by his letters. He mentioned that he idled ...