Characters We Work With – 30 Rock
The Jenna Maroney
Jenna is challenging to say the least. She is good at what she does, she knows it, and makes sure you and everyone else knows it, too. She has a few key skills that no one else in the office has, making her as indispensable to the operation as is the rest room or the elevator of your high-rise building. Outside of the few responsibilities she has, you don’t see her do much else. Jenna will of course socialize, spending hours making the rounds to allow people to enjoy her company(her words, not yours). She will pop into offices to chat up senior leaders, hang in the employee lounge to tell anyone who will listen how she put her exclusive skills to work along with all of the praise she received because of it. You actually enjoy having her around because you find her antics amusing, and you know that people generally don’t take her too seriously. The truth is that she does provide value, and even if a bit, or a lot, narcissistic, she is harmless and she means well…we think…
The Kenneth Parcell
Kenneth is the face of the place, he runs the front desk and welcomes all employees, business partners and clients into the building. And he is perfect for the role. He seems to have a genetic predisposition to smiling , unable to ever make his face do anything else. Thus, you assume he is simply a happy person, while part of you think he may just be deranged. Either way, so far you have yet to see a dark side, and everyone who is greeted by Kenneth mentions it to the next person they meet from the company. It is the perfect way to welcome a prospective client and lets all visitors know they are in for a positive experience. When reception is slow, Kenneth delivers mail, runs errands, and continues beaming through every task. You don’t know much about Kenneth, and you prefer to keep it that way. If he can be that happy working reception is his personal life a level of misery that the tasks he does here bring him the sheer elation he exudes? It is a question to which you are quite satisfied to never personally find out the answer.
The Pete Hornberger
Pete is weak and mostly ineffective in his role. Where Liz is the go-between for your team and the execs, Pete owns that role between you and Liz. But the last time anyone went to Pete for anything important, you were having a bowl of cereal before school debating whether to watch Dora the Explorer or Wonder Pets. Everyone bypasses Pete and goes directly to Liz for everything. She knows it, Pete knows, and oddly both seem okay with it. Pete would rather not be bothered, and Liz would prefer to get it done more quickly than waiting for Pete to forget and then remember to tell her. When pushed to make a decision, Pete will do so kicking and screaming, ultimately make the wrong one after which Liz will swoop in and fix it. You greatly enjoy the dynamic of the two as it is the best entertainment on the floor, even if it causes you and the team to have no respect for Pete, while losing a little respect for Liz who, as Pete’s superior, should either empower him, get rid of him, or put someone else from the team in the role. You firmly believe just about anyone would be an improvement.
The Jack Donaghy
Jack is the exec who gives the big picture information on the company, its strategy, and how vital the work of your team is to that picture. He does not hide in his office all day. You frequently seem him out and about on the floor, walking the hallways, as he seems to believe that his visibility creates a workforce built on partnership and accountability. He is as quick and decisive a decision-maker as you have seen, and despite an off the charts level of arrogance, you know that he really knows his stuff. He has the industry knowledge, and the brilliant mind that can size up every situation and every person in seconds, where most take a while to make a proper assessment and make good decisions. The company has flourished under his leadership, affirming why he’s in the big chair, and uses the VIP elevator, while the rest of your team wait in line stopping twenty-two times en route to floor thirty.
The Liz Lemon
Where would the organization be without Liz Lemon. You appreciate Liz because she cares more than anyone about the work, and never lets anything get in the way of being done right. She is the connection between the team and the executives, often traveling up and down elevators to exchange messages from one group to the other. Her job is high profile, but to see the grunt work she has to do to get everything done, it is an unenviable title she holds. Her reputation rides on all of the work that comes out of your team, and why she will never allow it to be substandard. She’ll even jump in and do it herself when necessary, which some take advantage of, but most try to avoid ever happening. Be it her responsibilities or severe sleep deprivation, Liz seems perpetually exhausted. You know that she puts in a lot of hours, and takes work home with her, which you often tell her to stop doing and begin delegating better. But she never listens, and you think you know why. She actually likes being responsible for everything, likes her title despite it being what it really is. She is a bit of a martyr, and enjoys everyone feeling bad for the amount of time and effort she puts in to keep this train on the tracks. Thus, you can only feel so bad for her, and thanks to her kindness and generosity, you hope it pays off for her one day.
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