Leadership Lessons By Michael Scott From NBC's The Office
- Jose Valencia
- Oct 2, 2018
- 3 min read
To be a leader is one of the most complex vocations a person can answer. Whether it's to lead in sports, politics, or the workplace, the requirements to be an effective leader remain constant.
Here are 5 characteristics that I believe make a great leader:
Great leaders care deeply about people
Great leaders use influence instead of force
Great leaders develop other leaders
Great leaders hold people accountable
Great leaders keep an open mind
One of the most iconic TV shows that hit the United States was NBC's The Office. With a such a relatable crew of lovable – and at times, not-so-lovable – characters, Michael Scott (played by Steve Carrell) is their unrelenting regional manager.
Given that I have watched the entire series at least 3 times entirely through, I started to take notice of Michael Scott's interactions with his employees. Aside from being a walking HR nightmare, there's something to learn from all of his leadership traits, both good and bad. Warning: spoilers ahead!
THE GOOD: GREAT LEADERS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT PEOPLE
One of Michael Scott's best attributes (both as a leader and as a person) would have to be his compassion. At the end of the day, Michael cared about his employees beyond the workplace. He knew about their interests, their strengths, weaknesses, hopes and dreams. Except for Toby. This is an important characteristic to have, since learning about your employees can help you develop them at a higher level of understanding.
THE GOOD: GREAT LEADERS USE INFLUENCE INSTEAD OF FORCE
Michael Scott (almost) never used his title or position to lead, but instead used his influence. What's the difference, you ask? By using influence – i.e. charisma, respect, and yes, persistence – Michael does not dehumanize his employees. It's a sure-fire indicator that your employees respect you when they follow you for who you are, not what your title is.
THE GOOD: GREAT LEADERS DEVELOP OTHER LEADERS
Michael always saw greatness in Dwight as a manger, but he also saw that he lacked true compassion for his colleagues. He always wanted Dwight to care about the entire office as much as Dwight cared about Michael. Eventually, Dwight learns this lesson and eventually becomes the leader of Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, PA. Most leaders are afraid of developing their "replacements", when in fact, great leaders recognize that developing more leaders would only make their lives easier in the long run.
THE BAD: GREAT LEADERS HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
Michael Scott seems to never have the backbone to do one of the hardest parts of leadership: accountability. It is crucial to hold yourself (and your team) accountable for any mistakes made. I could write an entire book on how to create an effective environment of accountability, but there are plenty of people more qualified that have already published their work on this.
THE BAD: GREAT LEADERS KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Michael Scott also exhibits poor leadership when he consistently refuses to listen to the valuable – and in most cases, more competent – input from his employees. By doing so, he is preventing his employees from contributing to the office's success. Great leaders will always confide in their employees opinions, knowing they surrounded themselves with the right people in the workplace. This does not mean, however, that you discard your better judgment!
THE BOTTOM LINE
It's hard to be a great leader. The most important part to becoming one, however, is to regularly assess on how you are doing as a leader. This allows you to improve on crucial traits that could bring you to the next level. Just make sure this influences you to become a better leader, and not just convince you to re-watch The Office again!
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