Leadership & The Office

I love The Office. Thursday nights cannot come soon enough. There are so many reasons my TiVo has this show rated with "three thumbs-up."

1. Watching the melting pot of personalities that are brought together by a job that no one cares about is like driving by the accident on the interstate.

2. Dwight. Every office has one, or five.

3. As corny as it sounds, I am helplessly riveted by the office romance of Jim and Pam (probably because my wife and I are a product of a secret office relationship).

However, there is no reason so great as the role of Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Dunder-Mifflin. My wife calls him "uncomfortable." I think this is a good description. My first impression of this character was that he was unrealistic. No way someone could be this oblivious and out of touch with those under his leadership. Oh how I wish I could go back to the dream world where I once thought this to be true. I am finding out that art really does reflect life.

I have started looking at those in leadership positions (including myself) and asking myself the following question: "Do they/I lead out of position or influence?" One way to easily answer this question is by observing those who follow a particular leader. If you take the leader's title away are those under his/her authority still following? In most cases, I observe the employees or volunteers work in spite of that person in authority.

Here's the point. A title never equals influence. Only character and integrity equals influence. A title comes quickly with a handshake or signing of a contract. These are both highly overrated. Character takes times. When volunteers or employees see character in you that is congruent over time, influence always follows. Then they will follow you anywhere.

One week an episode of The Office was entitled "Grief Counseling." Michael faced his own mortality when the man who previously held his position died suddenly in a car accident. All of a sudden Michael was driven by the question, "Would anyone in the office miss me if I died?" I know the character is fictional but I felt my heart hurting for him.

I cannot think of someone more lonely or pathetic than someone who leads out of position. They live in their own little world which they create in their minds. In this world they are successful, respected, and followed. When in reality, a harsh truth awaits.

Comments

[Julie Moser]

WOW - very deep and compelling thoughts. If you took away my VP's title, I'd still follow him. But the Director - no thanks....

[Jake Follis]

Dude...right on! I've been thinking about this a ton lately. And, if I had thought of it first, I would have written the exact same thing (only better).