Lessons from the Office

The Office is a great show, one which my kids are addicted to (I am not sure where that will lead in the future). There area lot of stupid actions taken by all the players, but too many times, there are clear threads related to real life. I saw this article on a Yahoo!Finance page titled "Seven Career Lessons from the Office", and I thought it was interesting.

Of particular note are lessons:

1. Managerial skills may not be what get you promoted.
2. "Boss" shouldn't be confused with "friend."
5. Make the tough decisions about your future.

I like the "promoted just above your level of competency" thought (in lesson 1), and have seen it in real life too often. People are often promoted this way, with the plan for them to grow into the job. Often, though, they are not helped in this endeavor, and often they are not capable of the required growth.

The Boss-Friend issue goes both ways. I have had to deal with that situation personally, when promoted and having to manage peers or long-time work colleagues.

You need to manage your own future. If you are passive, you can derail or find yourself stuck. At times like these, do not be afraid to make the right decision.

Anyway, enjoy the office.