When they’re not harassing customers, playing hockey on company time, or debating the risks of working on the Death Star, Dante and Randall serve as clerks at the Quick Stop Grocery and video rental store. This classic portrayal of Gen X “slackers” offers a surprisingly insightful look at:
- Stereotypes of Gen X in the workplace
- “Selling Out” vs. “Finding Your Passion” at work
- Negativity, disengagement, and absenteeism
- Front-line management and the need for self-regulation
- Purpose and motivation in employees
- The role of work and personal brands

Generational Differences and Purpose at Work in Clerks

Ever felt like getting change started in your organization would take a full-blown revolution? In Snowpiecer, Curtis leads the underclass as they fight from the back of the train to control the engine at the front. Aside from the apocalyptic frozen wasteland outside, the story has a lot in common with change movements within teams, including:
- The importance of creating a vision for change
- Knowing when an organization is ready to change
- The role of rituals and storytelling in change movements
- Overcoming failure and sabotage 
- Building momentum for lasting change

Sparking Change Movements in "Snowpiercer"

Warring colleagues, shrinking budgets, low morale: TV producer Becky has only a few weeks to turnaround a troubled morning show before it’s cancelled. If she’s going to make it, she’ll have to quickly learn:
- How to cope with sudden change 
- How to convince others to try doing things differently 
- Deciding if it’s time to walk away
- The pros and cons of making dramatic changes early 
- Motivating colleagues and enlisting allies in change 
- Role modeling change

Winning People over to Change in Morning Glory

A team consisting of a half-man/half-shark, a woman who controls rats, and a man who wields polka dots as a weapon… what better opportunity to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations? The Suicide Squad provides surprisingly insightful commentary into what it means to create a working environment where everyone—supervillain or otherwise—can do their best work. Our guest Paloma Figueroa from The ReadySet joins to discuss:

- The role language plays in an equitable and inclusive environment (3:15)
- Assessing “real” diversity on a team and the evolution of the “business case” for DEI (7:16)
- The differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion (13:04)
- Dealing with discomfort about DEI as leaders (17:20)
- Intention vs. impact (21:35)
- Navigating “cancel culture” and accountability (24:47)

Hosted by Paula Cizek, Paloma Figueroa, and Daria Lombroso

Credits: 
The Suicide Squad. Dir. James Gunn. Perf. Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena. Warner Bros. 2021.
"Work of Fiction" Theme Song: Matt Garza

DEI and The Suicide Squad

To work at mysterious corporation Lumen, Mark Scout has undergone a “severance” procedure: when he’s at work, he only remembers what happens work, and when he’s at home, he only remembers what happens at home. But when a former coworker shows up at his home, Mark starts to questions what exactly he’s doing during his 9-5. In other words, it’s the perfect scenario to examine:
- The return to the office (1:45)
- What it means to bring your “whole self” to work (6:33)
- Psychological safety and vulnerability in the workplace (10:06)
- Opting in and out of sharing at work (13:07)
- Work-life balance and burnout (15:17)
- Company purpose, meaning, and impact (19:03)
- Leaving a legacy at work (22:54)

Bringing Your Whole Self to Work in "Severance"

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell has been recalled to Top Gun—but this time, as a teacher. Can he overcome his maverick tendencies to turn the newest hot shot pilots into a team? Join NOBL as we discuss:
- If leadership can be taught (1:04)
- Special considerations for leading a team of high-performers (5:00)
- When to get involved and when to let go as a leader (10:30)
- Helping individuals get into their growth zone(17:30)

Leadership, Learning and Letting Go in Top Gun: Maverick

Coming this Sunday: an all-new episode exploring what it means to lead a high-performing team, as depicted in Top Gun: Maverick. We'll debate whether leadership can be taught, when to grip and when to let go as a leader, and more. Don't miss out—subscribe to get the latest updates!

Coming Soon: Leadership, Learning, and Letting Go in Top Gun: Maverick

We're members of NOBL, an organizational design collective that helps leaders align company culture to strategy. Every month, we're going to take a break from helping real organizations change to discuss fictional leaders and organizations from movies and TV: What works? What doesn’t? And most importantly, we'll talk about the simple tools they (and you, our listeners) can implement to make the workplace better.

Work of Fiction Trailer

Spoiler Warning: We will be discussing the movie's plot in its entirety.

In our inaugural episode, we analyze Gregarious Games and Innovative Online Industries (IOI) from Ready Player One. It’s 2045, and societal collapse has driven people to escape to a virtual world called “The Oasis.” When its founder dies, the race is on to solve puzzles that will determine the next owner. In other words, it’s a perfect foil for the challenges that modern organizations are facing, including:

Succession Planning
Founders’ Influence on Company Culture
Incentives and Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation
Autonomy and Delegation in the Workplace
Silos vs. Cross-Functional Teams
The Role of the Corporate Board

Hosted by Bud Caddell, Paula Cizek, and Jane Garza.

Ready Player One

In Episode 2, we analyze the company cultures of RegalView and WorryFree, two dystopian employers in the recent satire “Sorry to Bother You.” “Cash” Green starts working his way up the corporate ladder, enjoying his newfound perks and status—at least until he discovers a horrible secret. It’s a bleak but funny take on:
Leadership Development 
Employee Onboarding and Training
Profitability and Corporate Ethics
Diversity and Inclusion
Hierarchies in the Workplace
Authenticity in the Office

Hosted by Bud Caddell, Jane Garza, and Kim Perkins.

Sorry To Bother You

That’s right, we’re talking about Fight Club. In Episode 3, we compare the employee experience at the film’s nameless (and soulless) automotive recall agency with life-affirming (though violent) Fight Club/Paper Street Soap Company/Project Mayhem. We are Jack’s detached interest in: Company Purpose and Mission, Startup Culture and the Myth of the Founder, Hierarchical vs. Flat/Autonomous Organizations, Onboarding and Cultural Norms, and Mental Health in the Workplace.

Fight Club

Don’t let the aliens fool you: Men in Black is really about recruiting and onboarding new employees. When NYC beat cop James has a run-in with an alien, he’s initiated into the secretive world of the Men in Black, a shadowy organization dedicated to protecting the universe. Birthing squid babies, erasing memories, defeating giant cockroaches—and you thought your first week on the job was tough. This episode covers: Employee Recruiting and Onboarding, Tracking and Adapting to Customer Needs, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace, Retirement and “Offboarding”

Men in Black

Wannabe journalist Andie will get any job she wants—if she can just survive a year as an assistant to Runway Magazine's notorious editor, Miranda Priestly. If you’ve ever had a boss who makes impossible demands—and it seems like everyone’s had at least one—this one’s for you. This episode covers: Challenges of Female Leadership, Surviving Toxic Work Environments, Work-Life Balance, Delegating Work, Best Practices for Interviewing and Quitting

Hosted by Paula Cizek, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins.

Credits: The Devil Wears Prada. Dir. David Frankel. Perf. Meryl Street, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt. 20th Century Fox. 2006.

“Work of Fiction” Theme Song by Matt Garza

Devil Wears Prada

Power struggles at your office making you feel like you’re working in Westeros? In our first episode dedicated to a TV series, we look at the different leadership styles of Cersei Lannister, Daenyers Targaryen, and Jon Snow, and how leaders attain (and maintain) power. We cover topics like: Leading in War and Peace Time, Sociopathy and Leaders, Transactional Power, Transformational Leadership, Servant Leadership, Role Models for Leaders. Hosted by Bud Caddell, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins.

Credits: Benioff, David and D.B. Weiss, showrunners. Game of Thrones. HBO, 2011. HBO Go. “Work of Fiction” Theme Song: Matt Garza

Game of Thrones (through Season 7)

Jake Sully is shipped off to the moon of Pandora, where militant human invaders and native tribes are in desperate need of some basic conflict resolution training. This bioluminescent backdrop provides unique insights into: Leadership Styles, Types of Motivation in the Workplace, Building Trust as a Leader, and Negotiation Tactics.

Avatar

Ryan Bingham flies around the country firing people (sorry, “transitioning” them)—until he finds his job threatened by a proposal from his new, younger, digitally savvy colleague Natalie Keener. In this episode, we do a deep dive into introducing change, examining: How to address the losses associated with change,  best practices for communicating and implementing change, why it’s critical to honor the past, the experience of change as a leader vs. a team.

Hosted by Bud Caddell, Paula Cizek, and Dr. Kim Perkins.

Credits: Up in the Air. Dir. Jason Reitman. Perf. George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick. Paramount Pictures. 2009. “Work of Fiction” Theme Song by Interior Design

Up in the Air

70-year old Ben Whittaker is hired as “Senior Intern” at an e-commerce startup, where he meets the savvy but overworked founder Jules Ostin. Though he faces skepticism initially, Ben wins over the team, serving as a font of wisdom as Jules debates whether to replace herself as CEO.  It’s an insightful look into: 

The founder’s journey and the importance of self-awareness in leaders, how rapidly scaling teams can better manage complexity, and ageism and the multi-generational workplace.

Hosted by Paula Cizek, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins.

Credits: The Intern. Dir. Nancy Meyers. Perf. Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway. Warner Bros. 2015. “Work of Fiction” Theme Song: Matt Garza

The Intern

Did you get the memo? This 1999 cult film shows what happens when typical office drone Peter finally has enough of middling managers and useless consultants. It’d be greaaaaaat if you’d join us for a conversation about: Purpose, impact, and employee engagement, The organization as metaphor, Emotional labor in the workplace, Blue Collar vs. White Collar workplaces. Hosted by Paula Cizek, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins. Credits: Office Space. Dir. Mike Judge. Perf. Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole. 20th Century Fox. 1999.

Office Space

Does your workday last an eternity? Ever wondered if you’ve sold your soul just for a paycheck? In this very special Halloween episode, we look at literal offices from Hell as portrayed in The Good Place, The Devil’s Advocate, and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell. It’s a devilishly good time as we discuss: 1) Psychic prisons, instruments of domination, and other metaphors for the organization, 2) Office politics, evil bosses, conference calls, and other things that make the workplace hellish, and 3)your personal version of Hell as determined by your Myers-Briggs type.

Offices from Hell

For the Roy family, business is nastily, backstabbing-ly personal: when their father, the founder of Waystar Royco, is incapacitated, it sets off a battle for leadership of the media conglomerate. In other words, it’s a great case study for talking about: the unique challenges facing family businesses, what happens when (and if) a founder leaves, influencing others when you don’t have a title, and difficult conversations and delivering bad news. Hosted by Paula Cizek, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins. Credits: Armstrong, Jesse, creator. Succession. HBO, 2018. HBO Now. “Work of Fiction” Theme Song: Matt Garza

Succession (Season 1)

Join NOBL and adopted elf Buddy as we journey through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest and the Lincoln Tunnel, exploring the very different workplaces cultures of Santa’s Workshop, Greenway Press, and Gimbel’s. Cozy up with a cup of hot maple syrup as we discuss: how your work relates to your personal identity (5:51); how different leadership styles impact the culture of workplaces (13:39); what happens when firing is used as a threat (20:37); and the rituals companies must adopt to be more effective (24:28).

How Leaders Impact Company Culture: Visiting Santa's Workshop and More in Elf

Perhaps no fictional leader better represents the “brilliant jerk” than Willy Wonka—the candy-making genius who invites five children to his factory to find his successor. This episode is your golden ticket to learning: How “geniuses” and “brilliant jerks” impact the rest of the workforce—especially when they’re in charge (2:21), what companies can learn from Wonka’s unorthodox methods of product development (7:44), why front-line workers like Oompa Loompas are an overlooked source of innovation, better ways to select successors and transition to new leaders.

Hosted by Paula Cizek, Jane Garza, and Dr. Kim Perkins.

Credits: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Dir. Mel Stuart. Perf. Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum. Paramount Pictures. 1971. “Work of Fiction” Theme Song: Matt Garza

Brilliants Jerks and Innovation at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory

To work her way up the career ladder, Tess McGill will have to overcome casual sexism and backstabbing bosses, all while navigating a relationship with her business partner. It’s a fascinating look at how women’s roles in the office have evolved—or not—since the 80’s, including:
- How sexism and classicism in the workplace have changed since the 80’s. (3:10)
- The unique challenges female leaders face, and how women can support women in the office. (10:28)
- Managing inter-office romantic relationships. (20:49)
- Taking career risks and growing as a leader—including an invitation to NOBL’s new leadership retreat. (23:34)

Workplace Sexism and Female Leadership in Working Girl

When developer Richard comes up with a new technology for file compression, he finds himself suddenly launched into the heart of startup culture in Silicon Valley. We take a look at the early stages of Pied Piper, and what it means for: 

- The difference between purpose, mission, vision, and values—and why they matter (3:53)
- The different stages of culture at startups, and how to scale your team effectively (14:45)
- The four different types of company cultures (17:40)
- Hiring for culture fit vs. culture add (23:20)

Startup Culture in "Silicon Valley"

Quarantine making you stir crazy? Can’t take one more Zoom meeting with colleagues? Then you’ll appreciate the predicament facing the two characters in The Lighthouse: stuck on an island for four weeks, living in close quarters, with no one else to distract them from their endliess chores.  We discuss:
- How to start a relationships with colleagues on the right foot (3:50)
- The risks of having no separation between work and life (10:30)
- Managing conflict and the stress of social isolation (19:24)
- Mental health in the office (32:02)
- Bonding with colleagues in stressful times (41:40)

How Not to Murder Your Coworkers: The Lighthouse

While the monsters of Monsters, Inc. might think they’re in the business of scaring children, they’re the ones who should be scared: their workplace is a culture of cutthroat competition, toxic colleagues, cover-ups, and misplaced company values. This delightful children’s movie is really an opportunity to uncover the impact of fear on organizations; dealing with toxic colleagues and whistle-blowing; maintaining personal integrity in toxic workplaces, and more.

Working in a Culture of Fear: Monsters, Inc.

When Mae gets a job at Amazon/Google/Facebook stand-in The Circle, her work quickly becomes her life: constant customer feedback tracks her performance, tiny cameras follow her every movement, and her social profile keeps her  engaged with other employees. As companies demand ever more from their employees, it’s a chance to discuss:

- Customer-centric teams and feedback (2:18)
- Building trust and the “trust triangle” (10:35)
- The problems with “mandatory fun” at the office (15:21)
- The line between employee engagement and cult-like culture (24:27)
- Increasing accountability on your team without increasing surveillance (27:50)
- Dealing with micromanagers (29:37)

Trust and Workplace Surveillance in The Circle

As a newly promoted manager at San Francisco startup SPRQPoint, Zoey must build team spirit, placate a demanding boss,  and navigate office relationships—all while people break into song and dance around her, expressing their innermost thoughts and desires. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role for the first time, stepping up into a new role, or managing a new leader, you’ll learn:
- How to transition from a peer- to leader- relationship with former colleagues (2:47)
- Where to find training and coaching for leaders (16:10)
- How to manage a first-time manager (20:35)
- How to retain great talent on your team (31:40)
- How to come back from a big, public mistake (34:24)
- Ways to identify leadership potential (42:36)

Managing First-Time Managers from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

When American football coach Ted Lasso is brought over to England to coach “football” football, no one—not the fans, the players, or even his boss—expect anything but a complete fiasco. But the “Lasso Way” slowly wins people over, and in fact serves as the perfect blueprint for any leader trying to transform a team. This episode’s highlights:
- Leading when you’re new to the field (3:45)
- Building trust with a new boss (8:00)
- Getting executive support for change (14:25)
- Turning skeptics into champions of change (17:24)
- Managing star players who aren’t team players (21:39)
- Overcoming your first failure (27:56)
- Maintaining your own sanity when navigating change (32:47)

Transforming a Team with "Ted Lasso"

We're members of NOBL, an organizational design collective that helps leaders align company culture to strategy. Every month, we take a break from helping real organizations change to discuss fictional leaders and organizations from movies and TV: What works? What doesn’t? And most importantly, we talk about the simple tools they (and you, our listeners) can implement to make the workplace better.

Popular tracks by Work of Fiction by NOBL Collective