On Workplace TV & Organizational Culture

Ted Lasso, Abbott Elementary, Animal Control, Severance, The Bear, Not Dead Yet - there’s been no shortage of incredible workplace tv shows the past couple years. A group of imperfect people teasing, fighting and scheming. We love to watch it play out on our screens, but not so much in our lives.

It’s understandable - who likes to experience tension and chaos? When Ted inadvertently spills about Zava joining the team? When Mark and Helly conspire to flee the Lumon office building? When Janine covers for Ava, her inept boss, for the hundredth time? It’s unpredictable, frustrating and endearing. It’s humanity. It’s organizational culture.

Is that why we’ve been obsessed with workplace television lately? Is that the elusive “organizational culture” so many companies are chasing? Is that what return-to-office mandates are supposed to achieve?

Real life isn’t television though. Throwing people into an office together won’t result in the witty banter and impressive outcomes that TV shows achieve in 30-45 minutes. Nevertheless, we don’t have to resign ourselves to experiencing those moments vicariously. We can - and must - be more deliberate in our attempts to resurrect organizational culture.

Why not take a page out of TV’s playbook? Show creators use focus groups to understand what people enjoy lately (workplace shows apparently) and then employ creative people and methods to bring that vision to life. The WhyWork process uses focus groups, surveys and interviews to understand what your team needs to thrive, then deploys creative tools like Lego Serious Play to unlock their ideas on how to bring that vision to life.

Both involve deliberate processes using targeted data and creative tools; both also result in witty banter and impressive outcomes (usually in an office - though state parks work well too). TV ratings prove we love watching teams overcome challenges while having fun and growing closer. Why limit yourself to only experiencing that through your favorite TV show? I see it at every LSP workshop I host on communication norms, strategic planning, preventing burnout, and more.

Next time you sit down to watch your favorite workplace show, take a moment to inquire about bringing the WhyWork process to help your off-screen workplace address challenges too. I guarantee it’ll be at least as fun as finishing that episode - and more beneficial to you in the long run.