The Astron Road Show

Astron hits the road again, this time with a number of speaking engagements! 

On November 9^th, National Director Michael Maciekowich will present to the Blackhawk Human Resource Association (Janesville, WI) on “The Latest Trends in Performance Management.”  Then, on November 11^th, Mike will participate in a panel discussion hosted by the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (Phoenix, AZ).  The panel will discuss “Total Reward Strategies for 2005: Compensation and Benefits Best Practices.”

On December 1^st, National Director Jennifer Loftus will present to HR/NY’s Not-for-Profit Special Interest Group in New York City.  Her topic is “Spinning Gold from Straw: Low-Cost Employee Retention and Motivation Tools.”  Then, on December 7^th, Jennifer will make her annual compensation update presentation during the New York City meeting of the Business Council of New York State.

For information on registering for the seminars, or obtaining copies of the presentations, please contact Marketing Specialist Sharon Terry.

 

"You're fired!" Management Insights from The Apprentice

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The second season of NBC’s hit reality series, The Apprentice, is underway with a cast of hopefuls eager to hear Donald Trump ultimately utter the words, “You’re Hired!”  However, seventeen candidates will instead hear Trump’s signature phrase, “You’re fired!”  Their losses are our gain, since each week, nestled somewhere between the backstabbing, complaining, and finger-pointing, is a worthwhile business lesson to be learned.

The second season has already taught some valuable insights into managing successfully.  The Apprentice features eighteen young, business-savvy candidates chosen to compete for the ultimate job -- a six-figure salary working for real estate mogul, Donald Trump.  They come from all walks of life, with varying educational backgrounds.  High school diplomas and even Harvard MBAs don’t matter; what matters most on this show are leadership skills, enthusiasm, and business smarts.

Each week, the candidates are divided into two teams, who are then given a business task to perform. A project manager is chosen to lead his / her team in completing the task in a short timeframe.  The results are weighed afterwards in the Boardroom, with one team declared the winner and sent off to a special reward.  The other is told to come back to the boardroom with its bags packed.  “Someone,” Trump tells them, “is going to be fired.”

Sid Smith, owner of Team Junction and Achieve Coaching Services, in the HR.com article “You’re Fired! How Reality TV is Like a Real Business Team” states that “While the show is pure entertainment, it has caught the business community by storm.  MBA programs are showing it to their students, and business experts are analyzing Trump’s methods.  As silly as all this may be, the show isn’t that far from the truth of how many business teams function.”

Although many insights can be gained from the show, Astron recognizes the following three to be particularly important.

1. Hold successful brainstorming sessions.  Brainstorming sessions are a way to establish the role of the leader while determining each project’s course of action.  Unfortunately, The Apprentice’s project managers frequently lose control over brainstorming meetings, letting them spiral into an exchange of verbal jabs, interruptions, and rude facial expressions.  This diminishes team spirit, wastes time, and sets a negative tone for the project.  The American Management Association (AMA) suggests that the leader should monitor and encourage the flow of ideas, while making sure the discussion stays on track.  The task’s goals should be defined, and all research and information should be presented, reviewed, and discussed.  There should be no evaluation early in the process.  The focus should be on generating many ideas before narrowing them down to find the “right” one. 

In the episode where Jennifer C. was chosen as project manager for the task of opening a New York City restaurant, the ideas of her teammates or the location of their restaurant was not taken into consideration.  Instead, Jennifer C. insisted on opening an expensive, upscale, Asian fusion eatery.  Not only did she show a lack of respect to her team during the brainstorming session, but she also ignored the facts.  If she had put more emphasis on research, she would have realized that the restaurant’s Flatiron / Chelsea district location attracts a more casual, laid-back clientele.  Her poor leadership skills eventually resulted in her being fired later in the episode.

2. Define roles clearly.  On the show, it appears that there are often one or two team members who don’t know exactly what they are supposed to be doing.  Managers should know their team members’ strengths are and allocate roles accordingly.  As Maureen Moriarty, MA, ABS, of Pathways to Change, explains in the HR.com article, “How Future The Apprentice Candidates Can Win!” it is vital that each member understands his / her role.  “Project managers should begin meetings with clearly defined objectives for each team member.  Team members should have clarity and confidence about their specific responsibility for the project,” said Moriarty.  Part of the reason Maria led her team to victory when presented with the challenge of producing a line of designer clothing  was her ability to successfully define the roles of her team members.

 

3. Be a strong, passionate leader.  Enthusiasm, conviction, and confidence can go a long way.  Andy, the youngest of the candidates, finally had the opportunity to prove that his age had no effect on his ability to lead a successful team.  Given the task of creating an ad campaign for the New York Police Department, he refused to give in to pressure from certain team members to go with a “sexy” campaign.  Instead, Andy sold his team on his vision of a recruitment campaign that was also a salute to New York’s finest.  His enthusiasm and conviction won over his team, and ultimately, his team won the challenge. 

“Leaders who are passionate about their vision can generate enthusiasm and excitement among their employees and colleagues and motivate them to achieve success,” states Edward T. Reilly, president and CEO of the American Management Association, “but how you craft your messages and deliver them is critical to getting buy-in from the rest of the organization.”         

Which candidate’s management traits will eventually enable him or her to win the coveted dream job?  Carolyn Kepcher, Trump’s on-camera advisor and Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, explained at the September 17, 2004 AMA Current Issues Forum that Trump is looking for someone “who is adaptable, with the full package of leadership and management competencies, and who is also very true to himself or herself.”   That sounds like a description of a leader that should be a part of your organization, too.

How effective has The Apprentice been in honing your management skills? Be sure to vote in this week's on-line poll!