Irish Apprentice has got Sweet FA to do with Business
Published by Niall Devitt, Btb Business Training
If I am honest, reality TV has never really been my thing; it’s not so much the concept that bothers me but rather the way that TV producers choose to play it out. While I am by no means an expert, shows such as Big Brother seem to me to intentionally pick (or pick on) people who come across as having either psychological or emotional problems.
This type of entertainment is by no means a new idea. Travelling freak shows and the circus of strange did a roaring trade up until quite recently with huge numbers of people prepared to pay so that they could stare at the misfortune of others.
The Irish Apprentice
The Irish version of The Apprentice has been showing on TV3 for a number of weeks. I am familiar with the format for the show through having previously watched a few episodes of the UK version which I thought was OK, so maybe while not looking forward to the Irish version, I have intended to check in got the opportunity with one of the repeat episodes last Friday.
Format
First things first, the Irish makers have remained entirely true to the original format, perhaps it’s a case of if it isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it. I would have liked to see some originality in terms of the structure, however I accept that this is my point of view and on the scale of things is a minor complaint.
Mentor
Bill Cullen takes the part of mentor/judge and like him or loathe him, you cannot argue with the man’s track record of business achievement. In front of the camera, he appears less polished than Alan Sugar but considering the size of our Island and the number of suitable qualified candidates for the role, I think at first glance, you would have to say he is a good choice.
Contestants
Now here where my real issues with the show start, I have travelled the length and breath of Ireland talking to and working with people in business. I can vouch for the fact that this group of people with minor exception are in no way representative of the talent and potential that exists within the Irish business community. I appreciate that most young qualified Irish business professionals would probably neither want or need to appear on the show, but come on TV3, can you honestly say that these people are even the best of a even a bad bunch.
The Episode
The task was to create a TV ad to help sell a new development of apartments in Cork City. Both teams pretty much choose to effectively rework the paper brochure for TV. Lack of originality or creative thought seems the order of the day, but forgivable as the producers set the precedent in my opinion.
On this episode one of the guys who also happens to be one of this week’s team leader has to give a presentation of sorts to introduce the TV ad. In real terms, this amounts to less of a presentation but rather a simple 4-5-line introduction.
Earlier in the show, it had becomes obvious that public speaking is not one of his strengths and one of the other participants, wary of this offered to do the intro on his behalf. He declines, giving the impression that it going to be water of a duck’s back.
Fast forward to the presentation and not only Is the guy weak at public speaking but he struggles with speech full stop, forgetting the name of the actual client while suffering from the worst case of stuttering I think I have ever seen. While one part of me felt sorry for his obvious and public humiliation, another was saying you got exactly what such stupidity deserves.
To make matters worse, he then picks the guy that waded in and saved his bacon as one of the two for the sack. Sure that he was an absolute goner, I went to make a cuppa. Can you imagine my amazement when I returned to see Bill pick another member of the team to go. The reason, because she didn’t offer anything in terms of ideas and speaking up for herself. Fair enough, I think that in the boardroom was the first time I had seen or heard from her all episode, but how the other guy remained is beyond my powers of comprehension.
Oh yeah, the reason that Bill decided to keep him. Because he was a fighter. Now as a recall, during this episode, there might have been a little bitchiness, some name-calling but no fighting so?
Impressions
While the primary focus of the apprentice is to entertain and in this regard it probably ticks the box, my problem with the show is that some young people may believe, that it is truly reflective of business and business people in Ireland.
Business is about building relationships not stabbing the other person in the back.
Business is about knowing what you are good at and also knowing what you are not good at.
Business is about working well as part of a team not seeking the spotlight for you.
Business is about knowing how to lead not leading without knowing.
Maybe I am been too harsh here, perhaps there is one business principle that the apprentice and reality TV applies perfectly: Know your customers and give them what they want.
Let us be honest, our lust for watching the misfortune of others is as old as time immemorial. The reason we tune into the apprentice is not to watch the winner but to watch the losers. It’s not about watching their successes; it’s about watching their failures. Its not about watching people pull together, its about watching them fall apart. One thing is for certain; it’s got sweet Fanny Adams to do with business.
Tags: Irish apprentice