Some of the most beloved TV shows have given us unforgettable characters, thrilling moments, and jaw-dropping plot twists. But while the drama keeps us hooked, many of the workplace antics we see in these shows are prime examples of what not to do in a professional setting. From dysfunctional offices to unethical leadership, these binge-worthy series can be your crash course in avoiding business blunders. With a dose of humor and plenty of insight, here are lessons to be learned from some of the most entertainingly bad professional behavior on TV.

1. Mad Men – The Poster Child for “Don’t Try This at Work”

Set in the advertising world of the 1960s, Mad Men is a masterclass in bad business behavior. Whether it’s Don Draper’s casual disregard for ethical boundaries or the rampant sexism and office politics, the Sterling Cooper office is a landslide of poor leadership decisions and toxic workplace norms.

What Not to Do:

  • Don’t Ignore Team Morale: From backstabbing coworkers to shameless favoritism, the workspace reeks of hostility. Building a healthy team dynamic is vital for both creativity and productivity.
  • Don’t Believe in Boundless Secrecy: Don Draper’s entire career is built around lies, and while it makes for great TV, being dishonest in real life—about your abilities, your work, or who you are—will usually lead to disaster.
  • Don't Confuse Charm for Leadership: Don’s charisma might shine in a pitch room, but his lack of accountability and empathy towards his team shows what happens when “leadership” is all style and no substance.

The Lesson:

Charisma is great, but being transparent, respectful, and supportive to your team will take you a lot further than Draper’s “drink through it” approach to problem-solving.

2. The Office – When Chaos is the Business Model

Led by the cringe-worthy yet lovable Michael Scott, The Office hilariously captures a paper company's chaotic blend of incompetence and dysfunction. From wildly inappropriate behavior to baffling management choices, Dunder Mifflin might be the least professionally run office on TV.

What Not to Do:

  • Don’t Overstep Boundaries: Michael’s tendency to mingle too much in employees’ personal lives blurs the line between “manager” and… “awkward uncle.”
  • Don’t Confuse Fun With Productivity: While team-building is great, regular management-by-shenanigans (like turning work into impromptu parkour competitions) doesn’t necessarily lead to success.
  • Don’t Play Favorites: Remember when Michael originally chose Ryan over Dwight for a promotion because Ryan looked cooler? Yeah, don’t do that. Favoritism kills morale.

The Lesson:

Maintaining professionalism doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, but balancing levity with a clear focus on work is key. Oh, and maybe read the HR manual once in a while!

3. Succession – How Not to Lead a Legacy

If you think office drama is bad, wait until you step into Logan Roy’s empire in Succession. The Roy family’s media conglomerate is a disaster in motion, fueled by power-hungry squabbles, nepotism, and cutthroat schemes that make workplace conflicts look cute by comparison.

What Not to Do:

  • Don’t Lead With Fear: Logan manages through intimidation and manipulation. It’s effective in the short term but leads to deep resentment and instability within his team (and his family).
  • Don’t Promote Unqualified Leaders: Passing on leadership roles based on last-name loyalty (ehem, Kendall) instead of skills or merit sets up both individuals and businesses for failure.
  • Don’t Ignore Succession Planning (Ironic, Right?): Logan continuously fails to establish a clear and stable transition plan, ensuring more chaos as his empire hangs by a thread.

The Lesson:

Good leadership means empowering people based on skill, not proximity. Show respect, prioritize long-term planning, and create a culture of trust instead of fear.

4. Silicon Valley – The Wild Wild West of Tech Culture

While Silicon Valley gives us plenty of laughs, it also exposes the absurdity of startup culture. From monopolistic greed to mismanaged teams, the tech world in this show is one mishap after another.

What Not to Do:

  • Don’t Ignore Scalability: Pied Piper’s genius algorithm might have been groundbreaking, but poor planning meant the company consistently couldn’t scale its product (or leadership).
  • Don’t Mismanage Resources: When your CEO is more worried about his latest snack invention than your core product (cough Gavin Belson cough), priorities have officially gone off-track.
  • Don’t Invent Problems: Teams at Pied Piper frequently overcomplicate simple challenges. While ambition is great, sometimes simpler solutions are the best ones.

The Lesson:

Whether you’re launching a startup or leading a team, align your vision with practical implementation. Stay focused, plan ahead, and don’t drown in unnecessary complexities.

5. Breaking Bad – How Not to Manage Risk (or Anything Else)

Walter White’s “business” operation might have all the drama of a thrilling empire-building saga, but there is absolutely no part of his strategy that should be replicated. From botched partnerships to catastrophic hubris, Walter doesn’t just break bad—he breaks everything business-related.

What Not to Do:

  • Don’t Partner Without Trust: Walter’s tumultuous relationships with Gus Fring and Jesse Pinkman show that toxic partnerships can ruin even the most promising ventures.
  • Don’t Overestimate Success: Walter continuously pushes every boundary, letting greed and ego dictate his choices. His inability to define enough leads to his downfall.
  • Don’t Manage by Fear: Intimidating your “employees” (or coworkers, or rivals) may seem effective short-term but ruins all chances of loyalty and sustainability.

The Lesson:

Value partnerships based on trust, know when to step back, and remember that running a successful business (unlike Walter’s side hustle) is about building, not burning, bridges.

TV shows may exaggerate workplace drama for entertainment, but many of the spectacular failures we see hold valuable lessons on what not to do. Whether it’s Don Draper skating by on charm or Logan Roy bulldozing over his family, these characters show us that ethical leadership, mutual respect, and strong planning are invaluable for real-world success.

Next time you binge these shows, enjoy the drama—but take notes on how to avoid these mistakes in your own professional life. After all, your career should be one season of growth after another—no cliffhangers required!