Work of Fiction NOBL Collective

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)

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!

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)

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

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

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