Conan O’Brien’s move to The Tonight Show is one of the hottest topics of conversation these days. Of course, anytime some mainstay changes, people are bound to feel uncomfortable or even downright hostile. But an author at HRM Today recently posted an article on what new managers and team leaders can potentially learn from his high-profile switch. Though Conan is a bona fide goofball, an analysis of his transition from the viewpoint of a new leader offers remarkable insight in five big categories:

1. Expect to have critics (As your mom always used to say, you can’t please everyone all the time)

2. Find a happy medium (Do your best to align your strategy with your new team)

3. Test the waters (Spend time listening and observing so as to better fit in)

4. Stick to what makes you you (You got this far by being yourself, right?)

5. Make your expectations clear at the beginning (Avoiding misunderstandings is a great way to build trust and establish a good working rapport)

Who knew late-night TV could be so inspirational and relevant to the workplace? Well, we at CATS Software did, but that’s perhaps just as due to our collective addiction to any and all things pop-culture as it is to our excellent work ethic :)