The Best Negotiators On Succession, Ranked

Connor Roy, the eldest of the Roy children, sits at the bottom of the list. This black sheep of the family takes great pride in his lack of involvement in the internal workings of Waystar, so he'd probably be thrilled at his position on this list — when he really shouldn't be.

Connor demonstrates numerous qualities found in good negotiators. He has enough emotional intelligence to detach himself from the family drama whenever possible. He's a very idealistic and creative thinker. He even possesses the grit and determination to know what he wants, communicate what he wants, and get what he wants. That said, two fatal flaws that fuse together hilariously land him at the bottom of this list: his absolute lack of radar when it comes to his power and leverage, and a nasty habit of whining his way into what he desires. Connor claims to be above it all, yet he keeps returning to his siblings, trying to secure their support for his oftentimes useless ambitions. Connor is absolutely unaware of how completely reliant he is on his family name to support his lavish lifestyle. Also, woe betide anyone who tells Connor his lifestyle isn't lavish, because he is too unaware to even understand that. Connor Roy is a beggar, nagger, and leech, and power-hungry in his own way — while being completely illiterate about what options are within his power.

Speaking of pratfalls, let's talk about Roman Roy, the youngest and most chaotic of the Roy siblings. He is a shameless masochist with a fetish for the suffering and humiliation of others and himself. Anyone beneath him in any way becomes an object of ridicule, and like his father, he will bully his way into securing a deal.

Roman has shown himself to be extremely intuitive and capable at Waystar, and he can often instantly dissect exactly what's happening in any given business situation. He is also a very direct communicator. Roman does not have a fatal flaw, unlike the entries beneath him. Instead, he can claim a giant grocery story party tray of flaws. He'll fire people on a whim, giving them every opportunity to retaliate harshly in the process. I did just say he's a direct communicator, but he is also a weak communicator, especially when called out on his failures or inaction. He does not care how much trouble his impulsiveness gets the company in and will try to shrug off literally any tragedy. Despite good instincts, he's too arrogant or aloof to do his homework before any negotiation, and that can prove disastrous for Waystar.

Tom is Siobhan Roy's husband, formerly Greg's boss, and the in-law most determined to devour a thick chunk of the Roy power pie. Over the course of the show, Tom makes many sneaky and desperate moves to increase his proximity to the Roys' prestige, even becoming a double agent for Logan himself and a roadblock for the siblings' schemes.

The thing that sets Tom apart from the cast is that he'll happily sacrifice the most for a taste of power. A clout chaser of the highest degree, Tom will be the first to raise his hand when a superior suggests they need to make a ritual blood sacrifice. But Tom's no lackey. Offering to test the food for poison is the way he plays the game and builds rapport, and he's playing to win. That said, his willingness to do everything is also a weakness because everybody sees what he's doing and nobody respects him for it. Additionally, he does not know how to stay cool under pressure. When Tom senses danger, he hits the panic button. Every time. This man expects respect while having done nothing respectable. He clearly sees the angles, but he plays them like a coward.

It is time to talk about Logan Roy, the spitfire patriarch of not only his family but the entire Waystar enterprise. This man was the sun, and everyone else merely orbited him. As far as his presence in the show, he seemed less like a human and more like an entitled demigod, dishing out tooth-clenching pain with every aged utterance and bewildering fit of sudden fury. But even a demigod has his limits. The man was old. His health often seemed precarious. Even after his passing, his imposing legacy still haunts the organization from beyond the grave.

Logan's lived experience was an invaluable asset that he carried with him everywhere. Equal parts stubborn and perceptive, Logan could shift his attitude to suit the situation and secure what he needs. Logan thoroughly understood the mechanics of maintaining a healthy business relationship, and singlehandedly managed the entire intricate web of relationships in the Waystar RoyCo conglomerate. That said, he was a hothead, always complaining, senile, and defiant. He believed so firmly in demonstrating his own strength that when his weaknesses forced him into vulnerable positions, his fear of those weaknesses leading to his downfall became a self-fulfilling prophecy for Waystar.

Shiv, the only daughter of Logan Roy, wields a lust for power that conflicts with her individual passions. She possesses great leadership instincts and is an excellent creative strategist who ends up out of her depth due to the fierceness of her ambition. Unlike many of the entries before her, Siobahn capably and fearlessly expresses caution. She is also a master manipulator.

Out of all the Roys, Shiv ranks as the most powerful negotiator. She actively rejects the family's brute force strategies and ideologies about strength, and this flexibility of thought allows her to make actual connections that even cross political lines. Shiv shows so much potential that leaders of other major conglomerates personally request to only see her during negotiations. Yet, her own family leaves her out of important conversations and expects her to settle for less over and over again. This woman screams — internally — all the time. Say what you will about her brutal, intensely messy and toxic relationship with Tom, Shiv has the grit, wit, and ambition to take it all. The only thing in her way? That pesky glass ceiling.

As Season 2 begins, Logan announces that Waystat will take over Pierce Global Media, and that means the story revolves around dealing with its CEO, Rhea Jarrell, as well as the Pierce Family, a direct foil to the Roys. Rhea gets the opportunity to truly show her self-preservation skills once the deal falls through and she's fired.

An incredibly tactful negotiator, Rhea forms a close romantic relationship with the devil himself, Logan Roy. As a former media conglomerate CEO, she immediately becomes the number one contender to inherit the Waystar throne, and Logan intends to hand this down to her directly. She is a leader that even Logan deeply respects, and she carefully assesses Waystar's public image as she preps for the role. The thing that truly makes her stand out? Her transparency about her suspicions. This makes her one of the show's most formidable forces because, while the other characters would rather hide the skeletons, she can actually commit to drawing a line in the sand and walking away.

At first, this seems like a strange pick for the number one spot. How can a tertiary character from Season 2 be the most powerful negotiator on "Succession?" Pretty easily if you think about it. We've discussed the CEO of Pierce Global Media, and now let's discuss the owner, Nan, the matriarch of the Pierce family, and as ruthless a negotiator as she is faux empathetic — and the worst of the show's horrible rich people.

Like Logan, she is very principled and experienced. Unlike Logan, she remains as sharp as a tack and does not act like a tyrant. She has an acute understanding of what her media organization is designed to represent, and she already knows where her line is. She's also incredibly adept at picking apart the internal conflicts of those she's negotiating with and playing both sides to her benefit. Nan Pierce is a force that Waystar itself tried — and failed — to reckon with.