Assistant to the Regional Manager

In the hit comedy, The Office, Dwight Schrute believes that he is Assistant Regional Manager. His boss, Michael Scott, is always quick to remind him that he is simply Assistant to the Regional Manager. If you’ve seen the show, you know that this conversation happens repeatedly. Throughout the show, Dwight is constantly finding new ways to prove he should be Assistant Regional Manager, and eventually, Regional Manager. Spoiler alert, all of Dwight’s hard work eventually pays off. In the last episode of the series, The Finale, it is revealed that Dwight is finally the Regional Manager. Hard work pays off, am I right?

Dwight worked at Dunder Mifflin for quite a few years before finally getting the promotion he had been dreaming of. If you have seen the show, then you’ll know that this promotion was not easy for Dwight to get. There are numerous times throughout the show where someone else was hired instead of Dwight. He was often seen as unfit for the role because of the stunts he pulls during the series. These setbacks didn’t hold Dwight down though, he learned from his mistakes and eventually earned the promotion.

The infographic on the left lists multiple tips on how to get promoted. While they are all good tips, there are some that are more important than others. If you want to be recognized at work, you have to have initiative. Your manager has to know that you are capable and willing to go the extra mile to make sure things get done and are done well. Showing that you are eager to accomplish things, even if it’s something new, says a lot about who you are as a worker. Several of the tips in the infographic are about challenges and new skills. Without challenges, our skills will never improve and we won’t learn anything new. When change comes, it is important to be adaptable and able to roll with the punches. Having initiative is a big part of learning new things. You cannot learn anything new if you aren’t willing to take the chance to learn. In order to make your interest in new projects known, you have to communicate. They say that “communication is key,” and they were right. Who they is, I have absolutely no idea, but they’re right. Communication in the workplace needs to be efficient and clear. Communicating properly saves every time and frustration. Nothing is more aggravating than someone who gives vague or confusing directions. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine when I have to continually go back and ask questions because the instructions weren’t clear. The infographic also highlights that communication must be constructive. Coworkers will respond a lot better when they know you are trying to help them and not tear them down. Constructive criticism makes a world of difference. Constructive criticism leads me to the next tip, supporting your manager and other coworkers. Knowing there are people who are standing behind you and believe in you is one of the best feelings. Making your support known to your manager and coworkers is huge. Managers like knowing that their employees will stand on their side. The tips listed in the infographic are not guaranteed to get you a promotion, but they sure won’t hurt.

I think the best way to get from being a geek to a manager is working hard. Dwight worked hard for years and finally got the Regional Manager job he had always dreamt of. The road from geek to manager will not always be easy, but with initiative, communication, support, and a lot of hard work, it’s possible.