Leadership lessons don’t always come from strategy decks or business schools. Sometimes they come from a regional manager who grilled his foot on a George Foreman grill, declared bankruptcy by shouting it out loud, and thinks having “World’s Best Boss” printed on a mug is a statement of fact.

This week, we found ourselves in actual, real-life Scranton, Pennsylvania, where The Office was filmed. From the reception desk to the conference room where so many uncomfortable moments played out, we got to soak it all in. And while it was tempting to linger in nostalgia, we couldn’t ignore the Michael Scott-shaped elephant in the room, and the legacy of his leadership.

Because beneath the awkward glances towards the camera and the endless “that’s what she said” one-liners, there are some surprisingly great teachings. So, here are 10 leadership lessons from The Office, taken from Michael Scott’s leadership style.

1. Being Liked Is Not the Same as Being Trusted

Michael Scott loves nothing more than laughter, affirmation, and reassurance that everyone is happy, which makes him the prime example of emotional leadership gone too far. The main problem here is that as a leader, popularity doesn’t automatically translate to trust. Or progress.

Instead, real leadership trust comes from consistency, boundaries, and following through with your actions. Leaders who try to keep everyone happy make teams uncertain, which usually results in unruly or unmotivated team members. We’re looking at you, Jim.

2. Good Intentions Don’t Protect You from Poor Impact

Michael Scott means well, but leadership is judged by outcomes rather than good intentions. This is something he consistently fails to realize, and it’s one of the most important lessons we see leaders overlook.

Caring deeply doesn’t automatically translate into effective leadership, and without reflection, even the best intentions can create confusion, resentment, and frustration.

3. Humor Can Unite a Team or Destroy It

Most of Michael Scott’s leadership quotes are memorable because humor is his default. Sometimes it relieves tension, but a lot of the time, it is the tension.

There’s a subtle lesson about leadership here, because humor works in the right moment, but it doesn’t work if it’s used to distract from a problem. And it’s the leaders who use jokes to sidestep accountability that slowly erode their credibility, even if everyone is laughing.

4. Avoiding Structure Isn’t Being Human

Michael Scott resists any kind of structure, which results in a lack of clarity that leaves teams guessing or totally uninterested.

This is one of the most practical leadership lessons from The Office: that structure creates freedom rather than stifling it. Particularly when you give teams clear expectations, clear roles, and clear decisions.

5. Wanting to Be “One of the Team” Weakens Authority

Michael wants belonging more than leadership, and he wants to sit with the group as a friend, rather than stand apart as a leader. This is a classic leadership trap, but when leaders blur their roles, tension can build.

At the end of the day, it’s nice to be liked, and effective leadership can benefit from being close to team members. However, it also requires a degree of separation and an understanding of who’s in charge and making the decisions.

6. Emotional Reactivity Sets the Emotional Tone

As a leader, Michael Scott wears every feeling on his sleeve, and his mood dictates how everyone else is feeling. Unfortunately, leaders who react emotionally, rather than respond intentionally, create instability.

Why? Because teams learn to read moods and react accordingly instead of focusing on business priorities.

7. Never Avoid Giving Feedback

In almost every episode of The Office, Michael delays difficult conversations and hopes that problems simply resolve themselves.

Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the show: they never do.

As a leader, avoiding giving feedback only makes problems bigger than they ever were before. And what starts as a small issue can quickly become an insidious one when left unaddressed.

8. Catchphrases Are Not Direction

As we all know, the Michael Scott leadership style is all about slogans, speeches, and soundbites. They’re entertaining, and as the audience, we love them and recite them at any given opportunity.

However, while an exciting energy feels motivating at first, it doesn’t last long without direction and structure.

9. Authenticity Still Requires Discipline

Michael often justifies his outrageous behavior with something along the lines of “that’s just who I am.” But authenticity isn’t impulsiveness, and leaders are responsible for the impact of their behavior. This is the case even when it feels natural or honest in the moment.

10. Self-Awareness Changes Everything

On the rare occasions that Michael reflects, things do actually see some improvement. And it’s not because he suddenly becomes perfect, but because awareness creates choice.

This is the final and most important of the 10 leadership lessons. Without leadership self-awareness, leaders repeat patterns blindly, whereas with it, they gain the ability to pause, adjust, and move forward towards growth.

A Simple Reflection to Take Away

If you’re honest, you’ve probably recognized flashes of Michael Scott in your own leadership.

So, ask yourself…

• When did I last rely on personality instead of clarity?
• Which conversations am I postponing right now?
• What leadership habit do I repeat without questioning?

These questions aren’t about self-criticism, but about self-awareness, which will serve you very well indeed as a leader.

Final Thoughts

Michael Scott isn’t someone to copy, even with that $200 plasma TV. But he is someone to learn from. Because the most valuable leadership lessons don’t come from getting everything right. They come from separating good intentions alone with self-reflection, discipline, and structure.