Sometimes, cliches are true, including the often cited phrase, ‘life imitates art.’ While your office may not resemble Game of Thrones (well, let’s hope not), if you made it through all eight seasons of the popular show, there were likely at least a couple of times that a character reminded you of a coworker – or at least a coworker characteristic.
Just like a popular television show depends upon a diverse cast of characters, most offices are made up of distinctive archetypes and personalities. Here’s a round-up of how the popular characters on Game of Thrones may distinguish themselves in the workplace.
Daenerys Targaryen – The Dragon Queen who isn’t always the best team player, but she usually has good intentions and does whatever it takes to get the work done. Dany is a typical young millennial female – strong, idealistic, intelligent, somewhat inexperienced, but determined. Working with her is inspiring, but she needs guidance and direction from more experienced people. Also, she’s known to have a fiery temper.
Jon Snow – Jon’s a bit of a brooder and keeps to himself. He mostly listens in staff meetings, but when he’s got something to say, he’s to the point and usually makes sense. Jon doesn’t relish being a micro-manager, but he’s a solid leader and reliable colleague.
Ned Stark – Ned is a mature and thoughtful manager who always has his team’s back. Ned believes in leading by example and will do whatever it takes to finish a task, no excuses. He’s a bit of a stickler and won’t accept anything but the best, but he also is fair and goes out of his way to make sure everyone is recognized for their work. Also, he’s been known to lose his head.
Arya Stark – Arya is on a mission and she never forgets a name. Working with her can be difficult because she’s completely focused on her work, to a fault. Arya is not the best team player because her work style is very independent. She’s mostly good natured and loyal, but values completing goals above everything else, and she can be tough on herself and others. Also, she’s been known to be two-faced.
Tyrion Lannister – The wise, highly experienced, and somewhat jaded one in the office. Tyrion has seen a lot and won’t hesitate to tell everyone in earshot about the time he … you get the picture. He’s the go-to guy when the going gets tough, because he’s incredibly knowledgeable about most things, and he doesn’t judge people for being different. Also, he’s been known to cozy-up to management to get good positions.
Bran Stark – Bran is a visionary who has tons of insight and experience, sometimes to a fault. He has a hard time relating to people because he’s often focused on the big picture, but he does his best and keeps his wits about him when others lose theirs. Bran can seem preoccupied when he’s focused on a project, but he’s a deep thinker and brilliant manager. Also, he’s been known to fall asleep in meetings.
Joffrey Baratheon – Joffrey is the worst kind of colleague, and an even worse manager. He’s unpredictable, erratic, petty, mean – a human resources department’s worst nightmare. Joffrey plays by his own rules and doesn’t care who or what is damaged in the process. No one wants to be on his team, as he drives people away. Also, he’s not good at company events.
Hodor – What can anyone say about Hodor? He’s a man of few words, but he’s got a giant heart and will gut through the hardest projects without a complaint. You can always count on him to carry the bulk of the work, and he’s thoughtful and caring in spite of the most stressful situations. Hodor isn’t management material, but he sets a great example of a hard and industrious worker. Also, he always holds the door.
We spend a lot of time with our coworkers. So it’s not surprising to find ourselves thinking about how our favorite TV character display the best (or worst) qualities of the office mates we spend so much time with.
