Successful managers come in all types, but none more memorable than Michael Scott from the hilarious hit television show, “The Office.” As self-proclaimed “World’s Best Boss,” Michael Scott is a bit quirky, and at times obnoxious; but when it comes down to it he is a fantastic boss whom we can learn valuable management lessons from. If you’ve watched the show you’ll know that Michael Scott wasn’t always an award-winning boss (who is?), but he definitely did more things right than he did wrong. Below are five management lessons we can learn from the always-entertaining Michael Scott.
Add Some Variety To Meetings – It’s important that meetings stay productive, but adding a little variety and excitement to team meetings is a fantastic way to keep everyone engaged. Consider bringing a sweet treat to your next meeting to show your employees that you appreciate them and want them to enjoy being in the office. It’s never too late to try switching things up!
Spend Time On Company Culture- Company culture is an extremely big deal to Michael Scott. Although he didn’t always practice office etiquette when giving pep talks, his intentions were to keep his employees excited about the core values and future of the company. You may not be able to gather your employees in your office for a mid-day team building exercise, but you should make it a priority to gather and unite your team on a regular basis. Invest in them and they will invest in you.
Set The Bar High- There is nothing that Michael Scott doesn’t think his team is capable of doing. He believes in them more than they believe in themselves, which is what makes him a fantastic boss. When it comes to work, he doesn’t allow his employees to half-ass and fall behind on anything. According to the man himself, “The only time I set the bar low is for limbo.”
Know Your Management Style – Michael Scott may be a nutty man, but he is also a manager with his own unique style that he firmly believes in. When his employees have calls for help he immediately steps in to see how and who can help get them get on the right track. At times he may be obnoxious, but at the end of the day it is clear just how much his employees appreciate and respect him.
Get To Know Employees Personally- If there is one lesson to learn from Mr. Scott, this is it. Take time to get to know your employees on a personal level. If you’ve never gotten to know them personally start by asking them how their weekend was, or what they plan on doing when they get off work. For all his wacky behavior, Michael genuinely cared about each of his employees – and they knew it.
Do you have any tips and lessons on management you’d like to share? Leave us a comment below.
