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SMP Solutions Guide to Lessons in life from ‘The Apprentice’
Love Alan Sugar or hate him, ‘The Apprentice’ for many people provided some of the best TV of the year. Many twists and turns, some interesting personalities and some great learning points for viewers, regardless of their own careers and personal show favourites.
The dust has now well and truly settled but what have we learned from this last series?
Arguably, lots. As always it is a great management training and learning aid, typically true to life in that we tend to learn more by our mistakes and failings than our successes and boy were there plenty of them!
Firstly, not everybody is what they appear to be. As with most things in life, you need to scratch under the surface to delve and find people’s true colours.
Would you want a ‘viper’ like Katie working in your organisation? Equally, would you want to be perceived as the ‘Katie’ in your organisation? Let’s face it we all know people like this and they often do forge their way to the top of the tree before they get found out!
There are times when we all follow our ‘gut feeling’. Although hardly a management science, perception and intuition cannot be ignored and Alan Sugar showed this admirably in the way he finally called Katie’s bluff, forcing her into a welcome submission for the viewers and no doubt his own team!
Then there was the dilemma, so typical of today’s world i.e. do you recruit the potentially ‘safe pair of hands’ (Kristina) who you know you can trust and will deliver with the minimum of training or do you give youth, enthusiasm, creativity, unbounded energy and willingness but with ‘childish naivety’ and ‘quirkiness’ (as displayed by Simon) a chance on the basis that they may have greater potential and can be nurtured and moulded to be a star of the future?
Yes, great for TV but how many Businesses make the right decision, as usually based on short view to ‘hit the ground running’ today?
Would you have opted for Tre, on the basis that he ‘talked a good job’ and appeared to deliver, although it became evident that he wasn’t doing the job and certainly not at the level he had led people to believe. However, great entrepreneurial spirit and oodles of confidence and determination. Arguably the ‘maverick’ in the pack, which can only work in organisations that champion such players, otherwise they would be stifled. No doubt Tre will reappear on the scene all the wiser for the experience and will be highly successful but surely by only running his own business empire.
So to Lohit. How many of us have been tarred with the ‘Mr Nice Guy’ tag? Reassuring that they are good human beings but so often are criticised for having lack of ‘killer instinct’. True of many such people but scratch under the surface and there could be real 'fire burning’ in the belly and a true competitor underneath.
The likes of Lohit may have the ability and intellect but may not be strong enough for the politics and boardroom fighting. Part of their personal development has to be to decide whether to settle for ‘2nd best’ (or perceived 2nd best) or undergo a good dose of coaching to build their confidence and approach so that they may be able to unleash their true potential.
Finally, possibly the most interesting character of the lot. No doubt well forgotten by now but Sophie Kain (or should we say Dr Sophie?) provided one of the greatest lessons in life.
Clearly highly talented and intellectual but all at sea in the commercial world. This is where understanding and being true to your life and career values is so critical to enjoying a fulfilling job and career.
If your value set is such that selling is abhorrent then why try to pretend or ‘push water uphill’? It will never work and will have a major negative impact on the person and those around them.
Dr Sophie will I’m sure have learned one of the most important lessons in life and although not a winner, as far as Alan Sugar and The Apprentice is concerned, should now be able to refocus her life and career to make a difference and be a winner in a totally different and very meaningful way.
If you can think back to Katie’s antics, how many of us are really being true to our values?
If you have never considered your career or life values, maybe now is a good time to start, as it could change your life!
Copyright SMP Solutions (2007) Career & Personal Development Consultancy
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