Fun and entertaining, the office Chameleon is the life of the party. He’s social, friendly, and loves to talk. The boss everyone wants to hang out with, he’s also enthusiastic, passionate, and inspiring. He’s intuitive to his surroundings and blends in to match the different environments he encounters. And, being laid back and easy going, he quickly gains the loyalty and trust of his team.
The office Chameleon loves to be loved, so unpopular decisions can be a hard bug to swallow. He has a tendency to over promise and under deliver when he’s trying to keep the favor of his team and co-workers. And, with all the time he spends making friends, there’s not always enough time for work. So, he can be easily distracted and often procrastinates. You can always rely on a Chameleon when fun is the order of the day, but deadlines are sometimes a lizard of a different color.
So, check out these famous office Chameleons, if you’re an office Chameleon or know someone who is.
Colonel Sherman T. Potter of MASH
For a military man, Colonel Sherman T. Potter of the hit T.V. series MASH was easy going and lenient. He loved a good joke or prank as much as the next guy and understood the necessity of both when constantly faced with the harsh realities of war. But, he also knew when to be decisive. He knew when to take charge and put his foot down. He made tough calls every day, even when they weren’t popular or well received. But, those tough calls saved lives. And, he was a man his entire team respected as a person, a colleague, and as an authority figure.
As a leader, you have to make difficult decisions on a daily basis. They may not always be well liked, but you’re responsible for your team and sometimes that means calling the shots and taking control of circumstances and situations. So, be decisive and determined when you need to take charge. Your team will respect you for it.
Sam Malone of Cheers
A former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, and owner and bartender of Cheers in Boston, MA, Sam Malone is a famous office Chameleon whose life and work revolve around play. Baseball and bartending are certainly hard work, but there’s a lot of fun involved too. And, Cheers was the place where clients and employees went to get away. It was the kind of place where everybody knew your name.
Sam’s friendly demeanor made others feel at ease, welcomed, and comfortable. Employees and clients mingled, socialized, and hung out. It was even hard to tell the patrons and workers apart. The thin lines between work relationships and personal relationships were always getting crossed for Sam. And, he actually dated some of his employees causing a lot of unnecessary friction and drama in the workplace.
Drama is all well and good for a sitcom, but it’s not ideal for work. If you’re a Chameleon, use your interpersonal skills to grow and build a unified team. Keep the lines of communication open. But, keep the lines of work and life separate and clear, a difficult task when you spend so much time at work. It’s important to have fun with your staff but, it’s also important to be focused and purposeful during work hours. So, find the balance between play and work to build a unified team without the drama and they will love to come to work.
If you have difficulty taking charge or mixing your work/life relationships, it could be time to tame the Chameleon in you. Join us for the Leadership Instinct Simulcast on May 5 to find out how.
About this Series
As we gear up for the May 5 Leadership Instinct Simulcast, join us each week at www.RefreshLeadership.com to explore the different leadership styles of some of television’s most extreme characters in business. We’ll track office Tigers, Foxes, Chameleons, and Ostriches through the jungles of television’s sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows to get a closer look at the funny, dramatic, bizarre, and sometimes scary side of our leadership instincts. So, be on the lookout to see the famous bosses who share your leadership instinct style. Want to know your leadership instinct? Visit MyLeadershipInstinct.com , and take the quiz to find out.
Please note, the video clips herein and their sponsors do not necessarily represent the views of Express and are used for educational purposes only.
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