What We Made Possible

020. Reimagining Leadership with Michael’s Journey from The Good Place

• Patricia Dayleg • Season 1 • Episode 20

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On today’s episode [spoiler alert], I imagine what it would be like if Michael the Architect from “The Good Place” walked into a coaching session—clipboards, bow tie, and all. If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll appreciate the twist: Michael starts out as a demon running a torture-based neighborhood but, through a winding journey (and plenty of resets), finds himself wanting to change and lead with care.

This arc is hilarious but also deeply human and, honestly, familiar to so many of us. I see it happen with leaders who entered their work ready to make things better, only to get lost in old patterns of control and perfectionism. Maybe you, too, have found yourself swinging between over-managing and apologizing, longing to lead with purpose but feeling stuck and a bit confused.

I break down five challenges Michael (and real-life leaders) face: moral awakening and identity crisis, leadership confusion, guilt and over-functioning, control and fear of uncertainty, and longing for meaning. Along the way, I share coaching strategies for navigating these transitions—slowing down, building trust, letting go of what you can’t control, and finding real healing.

This episode is an invitation: If you’ve ever felt like you’re living through a cosmic plot twist, wrestling with guilt, or redefining what leadership means for you, you’re not alone. You’re allowed to change and to begin again.