Bluey teaches communication (and more)

An unexpected model of mastery

I look everywhere for examples of great communication to share. But I would have never guessed that a cartoon family of heeler dogs, living as humans in a house in Australia, would provide me with so much material. I’ve loved this cartoon since my daughter Roma and I first discovered its bite-size seven-minute episodes during the pandemic. Created and written by Joe Brumm and produced by the Emmy Award-winning Ludo studio for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the show is distributed here in the US on Disney+, with many clips and full episodes on YouTube.

Bluey Images / Disney+ © Disney, All Rights Reserved

The show follows the adventures of Bluey, a precocious and lovable blue heeler puppy who lives with her dad “Banditt,” Mum “Chilli,” and little sister “Bingo.” My family and I love how the show follows this fictional family through ordinary experiences, bringing about extraordinary lessons. In 2023, it was the second most-streamed show on the Internet behind “Suits.” Please note: as I mention episodes, I will put the one or two-word titles in quotations. At the bottom of the entire post, you will see a list of the seasons and episodes if you wish to find them.

While Banditt warns us not to take advice from cartoon dogs in “Flat Pack” and Bluey clearly screams in “Ice Cream” that she doesn’t want a valuable life lesson, she just wants ice cream, I’m going to pull out some communication (and life) lessons for you today. Whether you’re a rabid fan (not sure that’s the best adjective for a show about dogs) or have no kids and never heard of Bluey, read on. The communication lessons provided, like the best animated films, are for all of us.

Here, then, are the 7 leadership communication lessons I found in Bluey:

• Set the context – My friend Ary noted that the first minute of each show before the title card “does a marvelous job educating and uplifting without being didactic or preachy.” Many leaders fail to begin an email, meeting, or talk with a clear context for what’s coming.

• Be yourself – Throughout the series, all four characters possess a self-assuredness to own and express themselves. This celebration of authenticity could change many business presentations.

• Ask for what you want – As Wayne Gretzky says, “You don’t get 100% of the shots you don’t take,” and we see the need for parents and children alike to simply say what they need. This is poignantly displayed when Bingo says it hurt when her voice was taken from her in “Dance Mode.” Leaders can make this easy for their teams through a culture that embraces clarity of requests.

• Model the behavior you seek – Neither parent tries to pull the “do as I say, not as I do” tactic; in fact, in moments like “Surprise” and “Movies,” we see Banditt model how he wants to see them communicate and behave, and his two daughters respond beautifully. Too many organizations are misaligned between what’s desired and what’s exhibited.

• You can be right or get along – But maybe not both. This is evident in so many episodes; perhaps “Neighbors” best displays the crucial skill of navigating difficult conversations with family or co-workers.

• Remain Present – regardless of what chaos surrounds you. This key skill for leaders who may get anxious or flustered is clearly illustrated in “Takeaway,” where Banditt stays focused and present with the girls when his food is clearly not coming out on time. Staying present to those we lead can be challenging but so rewarding for those around us to see.

• Listen beyond the words – as Chilli does throughout the show, but particularly in “Hairdressers,” where she urges Bluey to slow down with her little sister Bingo and listen to thoughts, feelings, and concerns, even if they are unstated. Inspiring leaders hear what’s said and unsaid, verifying what they heard if needed.

My daughter’s best friend, Olyvia, was certainly right when she observed that “every episode has a message.” Yet, the lessons are beautifully nuanced and layered, never condescending or sanctimonious. That’s a pretty amazing feat in a seven-minute show. Yet, episode after episode, Brumm and his team deliver. Earlier this month, Bluey released its first 28-minute episode, “The Sign”, drawing a record number of over 10.4 million views in just the first week. Fans around the globe worried that it was a finale, but Brumm has assured the world they have many more stories left to tell.

Look back at the bulleted list above and consider how your leadership communication would improve if you embraced a few of Bluey's lessons into your own style.

Bluey Images / Disney+ © Disney, All Rights Reserved

Beyond helping leaders to communicate, Bluey absolutely helps moms and dads to parent. Olyvia’s mom shared with me that the show reminds their family to play, be patient, engage and love each other. At our house we’ve added games to our repertoire like putting the sprinkler under the “Trampoline”, playing “Keepie Uppy” with a balloon, creating our own “Claw Machine” with chopsticks and a pile of stuffies, and of course, welcoming the annoying-yet-delightful hand puppets “Shaun,” and later “Unicourse”. If nothing else, I hope I’ve convinced you to give the show a try. What have you got to lose but seven minutes of your life?

I realize the comments below are not widely used, but I’d love to change that today. If you’re an avid Bluey fan, drop a comment below and tell us what episode you treasure, and the lesson it teaches. If you’re a Bluey Newbie, read through the comments and find an episode to start your adventure. Then let us all know what you chose and the lesson you gained. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the wisdom contained in these surprisingly brief but impactful episodes.

JD’s Recommendations: what I’m reading, hearing, and seeing:

• Reading: One of my clients recommended I check out  Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg and it is a game-changer.

• Hearing: I’ve only recently discovered Collaborcast and loved Ben and Jason’s wisdom on their “Write what you know” episode, but all of their content looks compelling.    

• Seeing:  My friend and colleague Mike Katz offers this super-short and highly helpful video on how to sound like your boss in your next meeting. It’s worth much more than the twenty seconds it will take for you to watch.

PS: This Sunday, April 28, my husband, Ken Daigle and I will share the platform at Unity SF, teaching two complementary models. He will discuss The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership while I share Kim Scott’s Radical Candor framework. Join us in person at 11 AM at 240 Page Street or online via Zoom or YouTube.

References:

Check out this show on their official YouTube Channel or on Disney+. Below are the episodes I mentioned.

• “Flat Pack” (S2, Ep24)

• “Ice Cream” (S2, Ep47)

• “Dance Mode” (S2, Ep1)

• “Surprise” (S3, Ep50)

• “Movies” (S2, Ep29)

• “Neighbors” (S1, Ep47)

• “Takeaway” (S1, Ep14)

• “Hairdressers” (S2, Ep5)

• “The Sign” (S3, Ep.49)

• “Trampoline” (S1, Ep33)

• “Keepie Uppy” (S1, Ep3)

• “Claw Machine” (S1, Ep19)

• “Shaun” (S1, Ep50)

• “Unicourse” (S3, Ep8)