The Apprentice Sends a Bad Signal

I haven’t watched TV on a regular basis since the last Cheers episode on May 20, 1993. I’ve been told that I've missed some great shows as friends whose opinions I respect have raved about one show or another over the years. But frankly, I always felt empty after an evening of television watching (although I absolutely loved Hill Street Blues way back when) so I just took myself out of the habit of watching. I basically decided to reclaim the time to do other stuff.

In any case, my son Jake likes to watch The Apprentice. My wife, in her continuing attempt to have “family time” thought it a good idea for us to join Jake as he watches the show. Given the god-awful shows that blare away in my son’s playroom while he simultaneously fights intergalactic wars on his computer, The Apprentice was probably the best choice among some rather slim pickings to have “family time” around. So being a boy scout, I decided to listen to my wife (as if I had any other choice).

But when I watch this show, I cringe. I hate how people stab teammates in the back. I hate how they secretly plot with each other against another candidate. I hate how they vigorously point out another person’s flaws to Donald Trump in an attempt to save their own skin.

In business, teamwork and collaboration are absolute keys to success. Undermining another on your team by plotting against him, speaking ill of him behind his back, and being openly critical of him in front of the boss will not foster the type of team power that one needs to be successful.

At the climax of the show, Donald Trump reels off a litany of failings that a candidate has before firing him and then in a disgusted way orders that person to go home. This practice may make for compelling television but it is a disastrous business practice and a boorish way (to say the least) to treat people. These practices encourage interpersonal negativity and they weaken a team’s collective coherence. As a result they stifle creativity and they chase away the possibility of “good luck.”

Call me old-fashioned or New Age or woefully idealistic, but I like to create win-win-win-win-wins. All participants should win – the team members, the customer, the local community, the environment, and the shareholders. Sometimes it is even possible to have your competitors win too. Back stabbing, on the other hand,  is simply not a prescription for long term success.

Comments

[Chris]

It's just another unrealistic "reality" TV show; of course there are times when the failings of a team member need to be addressed and discussed with his or her leader. I agree the show isn't in any way helpful, in the event that a team member needs to be told they aren't pulling their weight, or worse let go because they just aren't a good fit; how then would you personally approach such a task?

[AndrewN]

... and yet in a real company the 'leaders' have to fight with each other for the budget, bonuses for their team, additional headcount etc. The 'leaders' that are rewarded are the ones who appear to be doing things, not the ones that actually get stuff done as they often don't have the time to play politics.

Maybe "The Apprentice" is more reality than you care to admit (although I agree it's horrid entertainment).

[Matthew Cornell]

Thanks for the post - it comes at a good time for me. I'm starting a new career (your book is under the Xmas tree - I can't wait to get started on it!), and I've been networking with people in related fields. Responses from most have been positive, even though there's possible competition. However, a number have also been very emotionally against talking with me. There's an undercurrent of fear and scarcity - win-loose instead of win-win.

I'd love to hear suggestions for a) staying optimistic and determined to continue networking, and b) for talking with people who are so negative. Thanks!

[Kamyar]

I agree. Trump is sending the wrong message.
He should emphasize team work, but again, team work has not been one of the significant factors in his success.
http://consultancyissues.blogspot.com/

[Marco]

The apprentice does not portray the real world. At least, I sure hope so. It is just entertainment that usually thrives at showing people at their worst.

Sure, there are some nasty things that happen in the work place every day, but not with the frequency seen in the apprentice.

Also, if I may, I'd like to emphasize some of the good things that are also seen (sporadically!) in the apprentice every so often. Team work, Loyalty, Success, Friendship.

[Jesse]

Hi there, It is not so much the content of the program that bothers, it is more the reality that millions of people are watching these shows which demonstrate the pathetic ways in which certain individuals will do anything to win. What it is doing is desensitizing the population so that this kind of behavior is acceptable on a subconciuos level.. We have all had runins with these "halfwits" and it is terrible to see our youth being exposed to it in most reality shows. Nothing positive can come from these shows and as a result I dont watch teli now. I am much happier for it too.

[Demabloggery]

I am most impressed by the manner in which there is "sudden death". No real opportunity for feedback, no opportunity to see who responds to it and learns from it, just "sink or swim". The type of tyrant like Trump, a dinosaur who started out rich, who thinks mean is good business, is exactly the problem. Not the solution. How is Trump doing compared to google, whose theme is "don't be evil"?