Why I’m Not Watching The Apprentice Anymore

I'm letting myself off the hook!

Last week's episode when Ruth was booted off did it for me.

All the criticisms I've had about the programme were highlighted in last week's and this week's episodes and I'm doing my eyes and brain a favour my turning off the telly or watching something else (even Midsummer Murders re-runs are better than The Apprentice).

I've said it before - The Apprentice clearly has a formula that works for the BBC so why get rid of a programme that draws in the viewers? It's just that I don't want or need to be one of those viewers.

Why?

I dislike the whole premise of the programme which is based on, to me, outmoded business tactics and outdated Leadership styles.

I dislike that the winning team is always based on who made the most profit without any weighting of team working, leadership, project management, communication and creativity. Those are only addressed in depth with the losing team, yet sometimes those on the winning team win by the skin of their teeth. They might be at daggers drawn, barely speaking to each other, let alone listening to each other, but if they make a penny more than the other team they are lauded and rewarded.

This puts all the value on the bottom line and devalues how people achieve their goals.

I dislike that the programme forces the candidates to blame each other in the Boardroom. They usually spend a lot of time blaming each other throughout their tasks already so it just gets worse in front of Lord Sugar.

Leadership that relies on hectoring, shutting people down, barking at them, humiliating them and probing all their faults is not the kind of leadership I want to witness in my free time.

I leave that to those who love the format of the show and enjoy seeing others squirm.

I want to see kindness and humanity; I want to see people's unique qualities encouraged and developed; I want to see people succeed not by how much profit they make but for how they approach their projects, how they engage their colleagues and how they use their and other people's creativity.

Now if you want to watch a programme that demonstrates all of that, catch Michel Roux Jr's Kitchen Impossible, where he works with trainees with a vast range of disabilities and learning difficulties to become employable in the restaurant trade. Tough but fair; reassuring not molly-coddling.

This is a programme filled with heart and humour, compassion and celebration.

To each his own and there are those who love The Apprentice and won't miss an episode every Wednesday night. Not me, I'll have my feet up reading a good book!

Check out Impact Factory's range of Personal Impact, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills and Line Management.

By Jo Ellen Grzyb, Director, Impact Factory