Imagine this: You get hired as a temp worker for a family-owned company and end up in charge of their retreat. You go on said retreat, ready to facilitate a grand ol’ time, and absolute chaos ensues.

The little bit of crucial information you don’t know? The company is fake, your coworkers are actors, and the whole situation is orchestrated to make for good TV.

That’s the unhinged premise of Prime Video’s Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I had a blast watching the temp, Anthony Norman, deal with the corporate absurdity.

The internet’s reactions to the show, especially among the corporate crowd, are a chorus of “I feel so called out”. And I can understand why:

Beneath the comical exaggeration, the show deals with some pretty familiar dynamics. In fact, your team is likely struggling with many of the same problems, just on a less ridiculous level.

Here are a few of the crazy situations you definitely won’t find yourself in (thank goodness), but that reveal all-too-familiar truths about modern teaming:

1. You probably won’t be made “Captain Fun” on your second day. But people are often handed responsibility without the corresponding authority.

In Episode 2, “Team Building,” Anthony is suddenly elected as “Captain Fun” and expected to help his coworkers navigate an increasingly stressful day of team-building exercises.

This disorienting experience is quite common in real teams: Someone gets handed a new responsibility because they’re capable, available, or simply standing closest to the problem. Now, they’re accountable for an outcome they don’t necessarily have the agency or context to execute.

The practice that can help? Team Charter. When you make the implicit explicit by writing down the mission, roles, decision rights, and expectations, your team gains a clarity that ensures capability, no matter who might get the Captain Fun hat.

2. You probably won’t be asked to lead a search-and-rescue for a missing coworker. But you might be expected to lead through a crisis you didn’t create.

After a pool day gone wrong, Anthony spends Episode 4, “Accountability,” leading the rest of the team in a frantic search for one of their employees.

I doubt you’ve ever experienced a missing employee emergency. But I can bet you’ve dealt with unexpected problems that nobody planned for.

When things are uncertain and everything feels like it’s on fire, the most important thing your team can do is take action, not waste time and resources searching for the perfect solution.

The practice that can help? Make a Proposal. Saying “I propose we…” is one of the simplest AND most powerful tools you can use to spur your team into action. You give people something concrete to react to, which guarantees thoughtful forward motion.

3. Your talent show probably won’t become a proxy war between rival corporate factions. But low-stakes team gatherings can become places where unresolved conflict shows up.

Episode 6, “Culture Fit,” finds Anthony emceeing an annual talent show that starts with good intentions but devolves into a turf war between the Rockin’ Grandma’s employees and Triukas investment group.

Absurd premise aside, unresolved tensions can pop up when you least expect it. A disagreement from Monday’s meeting can impact Thursday’s planning session. Frustration over a decision can surface as passive aggression. Conflict doesn’t disappear when you brush it under the rug. It accumulates, tainting a team’s daily operations.

The practice that can help? Retrospectives. Don’t let your conflicts go unaddressed. Carve out regular, frequent time to discuss what’s working, where people are getting stuck, and what can be done better.

Teaming in today’s world is messy. Company Retreat takes that mess to the ultimate extreme (albeit much more extreme than anything I’ve seen in my decade+ at August).

While I don’t think Prime Video will be hiring me as a TV teaming coach anytime soon, it’s my hope that these lessons can help your team be prepared for when moments of high-pressure, uncertainty, and conflict arrive.

And maybe, just maybe, be extra prepared for any unexpected offsite shenanigans.

Karina Mangu-Ward

Partner, August Public

P.S. My next book tour stop is coming up fast! Register here and join us for an interactive teaming workshop.

The next virtual book tour stop is just 10 days away!

If your team has a problem they keep stepping around, come prepared to tackle it in our Better Teaming Workshop on August 27th. I'll guide you through the best path forward and show you how to use the practices in the book to unlock your team's full potential.

This workshop is for anyone who believes work can be better, but needs help with the how.

Hit the button to register and add the invite to your calendar. I hope to see many of you there!