What the Parks & Rec cast and crew can teach us about school leadership and culture

N.B. if you’ve never watched Parks & Recreation most of the context for this won’t make sense – feel free to skip!

Parks and Recreation is a recent discovery for me. I only started watching it a few months ago (during lockdown) but have devoured the first few seasons. By the time it gets to Season 3 I think it’s a really well-rounded comedy (I don’t think I’m alone in suggesting that Season 1 is rubbish). 

I love Parks and Rec and I’m sure there are things it can teach us (mainly about friendship and about Leslie Knope’s infectious commitment to public service) but this blog isn’t about that. It’s about things we can learn from the cast and crew. I have a fascination with seeing behind the scenes of things, to see how successful operations run, and a successful comedy show is no different. Obviously none of the writers, producers or cast have ever worked in schools (as far as I’m aware) so this is in no sense domain-specific knowledge, but, all the same, there are some general things we can learn from the interviews they’ve given. 

The key figures set the tone

Amy Poehler plays the star of the show. In an interview the cast are asked what the relationships on set are like.

Poehler: I think that usually talented people are nice to be around, and this is the most talented cast on television. 

Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer): I actually disagree that most talented people are nice to be around. (laughter). No, I’m serious. And especially when they’re number 1 on the call sheet (more laughter). It’s the truth.. And a lot of the time when someone is really talented and they’re the top dog actor, the first name that comes up on the screen – basically Amy’s positon on there – they’re not always nice. And the fact that you are, and the fact that you’ve made everybody feel good and you always laugh at jokes and I’ve never seen you in a bad mood, it all rolls downhill. The whole vibe and everyone getting on, it all comes from you. 

It’s an important point. If you’re grumpy or negative or generally critical it will affect others around you and will spread (what I sometimes called the ‘staffroom smallpox’). I know sometimes I don’t always give off the most positivity! If you’re a key figure you will have the most influence and if you turn up at work in a mood it will affect a lot of people. Headteachers, SLT, etc – be aware of your current attitude and the vibes you’re giving off.  ‘It all rolls downhill’. 

You can be a tight ship and still be a warm communit. Rob Lowe (Chris Trager) and Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt) joined the cast at the end of Season 2. When they arrived it was clear to them that it was a well-oiled machine, and they could see why it was successful. At the same time they felt warmly welcomed and fitted into something that was more than a TV production – it was a community. There’s a lesson here for schools (or any organisation). Being a warm community and being a tight ship are not at opposite ends of the spectrum, where you have to choose one or the other approach. Professionalism and community, being clear on expectations and being welcoming, hitting deadlines and enjoying working with others aren’t mutually exclusive.  

They push the attention away from themselves and onto others. One of the things that comes across in these interviews is that whenever the cast or writers get credit they immediately bounce it on to someone else. In this interview Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza compliment each other, while the production crew are also praised for the hours they work and the job they do. There’s no sense of people desperately grabbing the spotlight and keeping it on themselves. They are confident enough in their own skins to do that in humility. Can you do that, or do you feel the drive of self-preoccupation, where you need the credit and no-one else can take any? 

They responded to feedback. There’s general agreement that Season 1 wasn’t great. In fact, if anyone encourages you to watch Parks and Rec they’ll tell you to ‘get through’ Season 1 until you get to good stuff in Season 2. The tone was wrong, the characterisation of a couple of key characters was off and it was all a bit lost. Fortunately they took on board feedback from viewers and developed the show. It’s so easy to plough on with what you’re doing, not because you’re sure you’re right but because you’re too proud to back down and change things. But that’s what successful groups do. 

Everyone’s contributions are valued. In this interview at Google the cast are asked about ad libbing lines. They’re clear that 99% of the show is scripted (and are keen to give the writers credit) but also appreciate the fact that they are encouraged to do a take where they ad lib and try things. Some of these ad libs (if they’re funny enough) make it into the show. There’s a sense in which the producers and writers give a clear lead for the show but everyone’s contribution is valued. Are you a leader who can lead with strength, purpose and clarity but doesn’t assume you have all of the good ideas?