It has been more than a decade since the finale of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” aired on UPN, but fans are still waxing nostalgic about the series as it has been listed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Hailed as a feminist show by viewers and its stars, Buffy, played to perfection by Sarah Michelle Gellar, and her Scooby Gang has continued to inspire and empower fans all over the world.
The coming-of-age comedy/thriller contains a lot of metaphors that a person may encounter in life, and people can learn a few great business lessons from the show. Here are some of the key takeaways from “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” that we can all use in our professional lives.
Acknowledge the fact that you’re not done growing and learning
In season 7, Buffy told Angel (David Boreanaz) that she’s not done growing as a person. She tells the vampire, “I’m cookie dough. I’m not done baking. I’m not finished becoming whoever the hell it is I’m gonna turn out to be.”
There’s always room to learn and grow as a leader. Develop your skills, delight in learning something new each day, until you stop “baking” and become the person you’re destined to be.
Surround yourself with people you trust
In business, it’s important to have a mentor as well as skilled and loyal teammates to help you succeed. You might be the team’s superhero, but you can get stronger with the help of a few trusted allies.
Buffy surrounded herself with people whom she could trust, and all her friends have something to bring to the table when it comes to defeating the bad guys. Giles (Anthony Head) is her Watcher, the one who trains her and gives her valuable advice. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is the brains of the team, and later on, her powerful skills as a witch become valuable to everyone.
Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has no superpowers, but he is the glue that keeps the whole Scooby Gang together. In Buffy’s words, he has “clocked more field time than anybody,” and that makes him very valuable.
Don’t let anyone scare you into submission
In the season 5 episode titled “Checkpoint,” the Watcher Council travel to Sunnydale to review Buffy’s skills as a Slayer. Upon their arrival, they blackmail Buffy and her friends, threatening to send Giles to England if she doesn’t submit to the review. Later, she tells the Council what she really thinks about them and that she refuses to submit to their will.
In business, there will be some people who will try to bully you into doing what they want. Take a leaf out of Buffy’s book and stand strong. If you don’t like their terms, make a few suggestions until you come to an agreement.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the best female-owned beauty brands to support this month.
