Conversations in Management
Love
it or hate it, reality TV has become a prominent part of our
entertainment landscape. From the austere Survivor, to
the glitzy American Idol, to the truly goofy Joe Schmo,
reality TV purports to catch ordinary people in the act of
being themselves under anything but ordinary circumstances.
Surprisingly, it usually succeeds because for generations of
folks raised on a steady diet of television, the intrusive
presence of a camera and crew doesn’t seem to pose much of a
problem. In short order everyone on these shows starts treating
the camera like an old friend and begins recklessly sharing
their innermost thoughts with that cold, unblinking eye. They do
so at their peril. Those moments of candor get edited,
re-sequenced and neatly package into a 60-minute program that is
all about entertainment. Though one can only imagine the
horror that these folks must feel when their often uncharitable
observations are aired, the truth is, that the portrayals of
their character are pretty accurate.
That’s what
makes Donald Trump’s show, The Apprentice, particularly
interesting for anyone who holds a job. The premise of the show
is that the final candidates for a position with the Trump
organization compete for the job during a 16 week job interview.
Each week Trump fires one of the applicants until only one is
left—that person becomes the Apprentice. Now in its sixth
season, students of the show (though apparently not the
contestants) long ago figured out what Trump is looking for in
an apprentice. They’re traits that most of us could easily agree
are essential for success. Foremost, Trump is looking for
a leader. He wants someone with initiative, who’ll accept a
challenge and see it through to the desired end. He expects a
leader to be able to rapidly assess a situation, determine the
core issue and then effectively apply all available resources.
He’s also looking for a leader who stays calm under intense
pressure and who has the courage to make tough decisions. He
wants creativity, versatility and he wants someone who can get
along with others. And make no mistake; he assembles an
applicant pool that’s likely to deliver. Invariably, contestants
on the show are people who are already extremely successful in
business, a profession or as entrepreneurs. They’re a talented,
charismatic group of people who would be an asset to any
organization. Yet week after week, Trump meticulously winnows
the field in search of a leader.
Curiously,
in his search for a gifted leader, Trump rarely focuses on how
his candidates perform as followers. That’s a mistake,
because on a weekly basis these otherwise attractive people
reveal an unflattering aspect of their character. That aspect is
the often gleeful willingness to sandbag their leader in order
to gain a personal advantage. They do it in a variety of ways.
Sometimes, they withhold information or effort. Other times they
simply bad mouth the leader and undermine the morale of other
team members. They may feign support or refrain from offering
helpful feedback. Often the leader survives the poor showing
offered by such followers, but the viewer has trouble fathoming
the moral choices made by these bright young men and women.
It’s vaguely unsettling, but also a call for personal
reflection. What kind of follower are you? Are you sandbagging
the boss or giving your best? Think of your life as a reality TV
show and play your role in a way that makes you proud. Lead and
follow well. If you do, there may be a “Trump” in your
future saying, “You’re hired!”
—Ebert
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