For those not familiar with the show, it features a senior executive (typically the CEO) of a well-known corporation who works undercover in their own firm for a few days to investigate how the company really works and to identify how it can be improved. At the end of each show, the undercover boss resumes his true identity and summons the employees he worked with individually to corporate headquarters. He then reveals his identity and rewards the hardworking employees through promotions and financial rewards.
The reason I believe its worth one viewing (of any episode) by a leader is because it reveals the many blind spots senior leaders sometime have concerning their company and the effectiveness of new initiatives they firmly believe in and put in place system-wide. So, here are a few of my lessons learned:
Don’t get too caught up in smelling your own perfume or cologne. Sometimes we get so caught up in the financial outcomes of new initiatives and technology that we forget about or neglect the human element – our employees and customers.
Learn by walking around. Make it a habit to get out to your office at least a few times a year, visit the various departments and facilities, walk around, meet and greet employees, and genuinely ask for their input on how things are going. Most of all be prepared to hear the bad sprinkled in with the good to give you a firsthand impression of what the company culture really is.
Always make a good-faith effort to solicit employee input. Before implementing major changes or initiatives that will significantly impact how work gets done, request employee suggestions and feedback. This will not only prevent you from being caught off guard you when you hear that they are unhappy or dissatisfied with new changes, but also allow you to understand how the changes will impact them personally.
What I get most out of watching Undercover Boss is how detached we sometimes are (as leaders) from the day-to-day operations of our organizations, just how detrimental that can be to employee productivity and morale, and the immense sense of pride employees display when we show that we appreciate and value their contribution.
Undercover Boss revives the idea of the old saying, "The Buck stops Here!" Integrity is often lost in the digital age so that it is easy to forget why the business exists. Leaders who care enough to get in the trenches and find out what is going on are vital to the growth of a successful business because the most important stakeholder in any business is the customer.
ReplyDeleteD.V. Hurt, thanks for your comment. I agree the digital age has certainly compromised the effectiveness of many leaders. Getting in the trenches (like they did back in the day) is the most effective way to keep attune to what's going on in the organization.
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