7 Lessons from The Office that likely apply to your Office

One of the greatest comedies of all time with genius writing has a lot of truths hidden in plain sight. Here are 7 scenes that we can relate to, and learn from:

1. And I guarantee that you will be satisfied! 'Cause your satisfaction is our guarantee! We guarantee it.

This is an eye- opener scene where Michael tells Pam on her first sales call. Tell the customer ‘You guarantee - Say the word!’ This is profound as communicating the assurance of certainty can easily be forgotten in the age of digital media spends and faceless interfaces. Customers care that their purchase is risk free. Guarantee, it is a beautiful word that does wonders to remove uncertainty in the mind of the shopper. We've taken a page out of Pam's book here and introduced a Fit Guarantee into our offering at The Pant Project.

2. Beware of the ‘Perfectionist Ryans’ who would rather not do it at all

In every organisation, there are thinkers and there are doers. While the thinkers may have great ideas, an organisation needs doers. I am wary of hiring too many thinkers. At a dynamic fast paced environment. I believe it is about shooting 100s of darts and seeing which angle works as opposed to doing an extensive planning and shooting only one dart. More chances of getting things right comes with doing more and trying many different things.?

3. No More Meetings!?

I resonate with Stanley completely here. Meetings where announcements are made or goals discussed with a large group are a total waste of time. We rather have smaller group focused meetings where each team member is communicated with. The focus of these small group meetings is individual accountability towards the company goal. The large group meetings cannot enforce that ‘personal responsibility’ and can easily be replaced with an email instead of wasting time on addressing a large group.

4. There are ‘Dwights’ in every organisation - know how to get the best from them!

Dwight’s character is incredible in The office. His evolution from being a power-hungry top-salesman with terrible team skills to finally finding his place is beautifully shown.? He is a reminder to me that no employee is going to be perfect. I will meet Dwight who may have different unmet needs and may behave differently than the rest of the team.?

The Dwight's of the office may lead to great returns in the long term if managed carefully with patience and understanding in the short term.

5. Ryan: It is ten times more expensive to sign a new customer

Ryan's reminder is a worthy one, and cannot be emphasised strongly enough. For a brand like the Pant Project, this is undeniably true. Our business does not work with constantly acquiring new customers, it works when acquired customers constantly repeat purchase with us over a long period of time. We have working our best on building trust (offering free alterations) and adding convenience (storing all measurements) to make it easier for our customers to return.

6. If you want the Darryl's in the office to respect you, make it happen

Great workers in the office, the Darryl's are honest, smart and call it as they see it. If leaders slack, Darryl's will quit. By being authentic and doing more than anyone else, leaders are meant to inspire confidence in the Darryl's and get the best out of them.

7. Team is inspired when you do your best not with your words

For a business, sales is the centre of the activity. The ones who move the needle for sales are rockstars. The only time Pam and Ryan were ever impressed by Michael was in the Michael Scott Paper company which got Michael in the ‘salesman zone’. Michael’s grand gestures, his parties, his moral lectures cringed everyone. Only when he did what he was best at, did he get the love he always wanted from his team. This scene reminds me of constantly operating the best in my area which keeps the energy up and is contagious for the team.