Isn't it ironic that people working from home can still learn a thing or two from the office culture featured in their favourite sitcoms? And let's be honest, we can all relate to
The Office family — from having an aunt like Phyllis to an uncle like Creed (whose job we never
really understand).
But where does marketing come into play here? Well,
The Office is all about people making the most out of their day jobs — whether they are passionate about it or not. And any marketer — whether you are going through a good day or a bad day — will find something to relate to from these characters.
So, marketers, it is time to binge our favourite throwback with
media update’s Talisa Carlson.
Are you ready to get people afraid of how much they love your marketing? Let's do it!
Stay optimistic like Michael Scott
There is a lot one can say about Michael Scott: He is sometimes
very inappropriate,
rarely makes sense and tends to be really OTT. But, there is one sure thing that he can teach marketers and that is to
always stay optimistic. This is the type of mindset you, as a marketer, need to have because there are times when campaigns don't work or someone shoots down your idea.
Don't take things too seriously — like Jim Halpert
It can be
so easy to fall into the trap of taking work, life and everything else
way too seriously. That is why Jim is a great example to look at. He sets his goals, but along the way, he ensures that the journey is always fun.
Coming out of a pandemic, marketers may be feeling the blues — so why not bring back a bit of fun with some innocent pranks and comedic relief to the office. The same can be said for new marketing campaigns, as having some comedy involved will only do the brand well.
Stay focused, just like Pam Beesly
The Office is truly a chaotic place to work at with Michael Scott being the manager, Kelly Kapoor always gossiping and Dwight Shrute being, well, Dwight — yet Pam still manages to get her work done between all the chaos.
As a marketer, there are many different projects you need to focus on. And, with working from home and constantly connecting online with many people, it can become a
bit chaotic. Just remember to stay focused like Pam.
Show how loyal you are — like Dwight Schrute
Have you ever met a more loyal character than Dwight Schrute? (
Name one, just one … Don't worry I will wait … bet you couldn't.)
Dwight has always been there for Michael — from season one
all the way to season nine. This is a trait that marketers need to strive for. Show your clients how
loyal you are and how you are always working towards taking their brand to the next level.
Fact — clients love loyalty.
Be confident like Darryl Philbin
Confidence is key in marketing! When you pitch a new campaign idea, look for solutions or look for new ways to market a brand, it is important to
be confident.
Darryl started out as a warehouse worker, but with his charm, intelligence and confidence, he managed to get an office job from Dunder Mifflin. This just shows how important it is to have confidence. So the next time you have an idea, be sure to speak up!
Fake it till you make it, like Ryan Howard
So, if you don't know Ryan's story, here is a little breakdown: He starts as the intern, then he is offered a role as a junior salesman and finally, he is promoted to regional supervisor.
Even though he goes back to being a temp a few seasons later, there is an important lesson to be learnt from Ryan —
fake it till you make it! Marketers are constantly learning and evolving. So why not hit the ground running? Pretend to be the greatest at your job
while you learn the best ways to go about certain challenges and opportunities. Ryan wings it a lot in
The Office — so maybe it is time for you to be your own wing-it man.
For example, let's say that your boss asks you to work on a certain campaign that talks about a topic that you are not familiar with. Don't fret! Just say, "Sure thing boss!" and head over to Google and do a
ton of research.
Don't ever give up — like Kelly Kapoor
When Kelly (
or anyone really) wants something, she
does not give up! The moment she met Ryan, she decided that he is
her person. And, although the feeling wasn't mutual at first, eventually Ryan started sharing the same feelings for Kelly.
So, dear marketer, if you want to reach that goal or be part of a certain event, just never
ever give up.
Don't be a Karen, be a Kelly!
Be patient, just like Toby Flenderson
Out of everyone who works in
The Office, Toby sure has it the hardest! This is because Michael Scott cannot stand Toby. Michael views him as a symbol of corporate culture (because he works in HR) — which means that he is
not part of the family.
This has led to Toby needing to deal with
a lot of ridiculous situations. And although it
must have been nerve-wracking, Toby always stays calm and patient.
In the marketing industry, you will always face many challenges and obstacles. Therefore, it is
essential that you have a
calm and
patient approach to these issues.
Be independent like Angela Martin
Angela proves that dynamite
really does come in small packages. This blonde bombshell shows all of us what true
independence looks like.
She knows what skills she has and what value she brings to the table — so
no one can make her doubt herself.
In the marketing industry, there will
always be tons of competition, which is why it is
vital to be
independent and
believe in yourself. This will allow you to cut through the noise and be able to work on a concept or idea that will take the marketing industry by storm.
Allow your human side to show just like Kevin Malone
Kevin is one of those characters that you can never take seriously. This is because he
always just has fun.
He is
human and he is not afraid to show that humanistic side of himself to his colleagues.
As a marketer, it is important to remind clients, the public and agencies that you are indeed
just human.
For example, being genuine will not only help support your marketing strategy by making it more authentic, but it will remind the people you work with that behind those emails, planning and brainstorming is just another human being.
What else do you think marketers can learn from The Office characters? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
*GIPHS sourced from GIPHY *Image courtesy of
Canva