If you're the leader of a large company, your time is a precious commodity. Is it misleading to suggest that a week of personal experience can change the way corporations treat their workforce?ĮH: I feel strongly, and I've seen it first hand, that it can make big changes. On the other hand, I think there's a certain cynicism in the UK as to whether the boss might really be a good guy, whereas in America hope springs eternal - we're a country of optimists.ĬNN: The show implies that change can happen. For instance, Stephen has suggested to me that we in America are much less likely to overtly complain about our work - there's maybe a certain suspicion of authority here. Does the show's concept translate across cultures?ĮH: There are things that are slightly different culturally. Stephen wondered - would everyone really recognize the boss, out of context and scruffed up?ĬNN: Versions of the show are being planned for countries all around the world. One journalist mused that if Willie Walsh, the British Airways boss, had gone and worked anonymously and done some of the luggage sorting and basic functions, he would have anticipated some of these problems and headed them off.īut the reporter said it would never work, that Walsh would be recognized. But I think there was just as much publicity risk.ĬNN: What first sparked the idea for "Undercover Boss?"ĮH: Stephen Lambert had the idea for this show when he was reading press about the opening of the new British Airways terminal, and there were all sorts of problems. For some companies, maybe there's a publicity benefit. O'Donnell had tried so many things, all with an eye to making the workforce engage more - they have company newsletters and corporate videos, off-site retreats.īut just one episode that was aired outside the reach of their company touched their workers so much more. For Larry, who used to spend 200 days a year on the road looking for opportunities to improve, he saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to get smuggled into his operation and get a first-hand look.ĬNN: What kind of feedback have you gotten from executives who have appeared on the show?ĮH: Employee engagement means the difference between someone who cares, who's focused on work, taking a little more pride in it - and someone who is just punching the clock and going through the motions.Įngagement apparently went way up at Waste Management after the episode, in ways they could measure. It's no coincidence that Larry O'Donnell, our first boss, was the chief operating officer for Waste Management Inc. They realized that even incremental increases - which might seem very slight - have a profound impact on the organization. People wanted to take the measure of these bosses - could they work a long shift? How do they react when they are faced with inequity in the workplace, or the struggles and suffering of people who are not quite so fortunate?ĬNN: Given that the show was in some ways an exercise in being humbled, why did CEOs sign on to participate?ĮH: Particularly for CEOs who have a strong eye on operations, for them understanding their employees and trying to help them become more engaged in their work is a daily pursuit. Why do you think so many people want to watch CEOs learn about their own companies?Įli Holzman: With so much finger-pointing at Wall Street and towards the head office and so many CEOs hiding behind their handlers and dragged out kicking and screaming in front of congressional committees - there was a real desire to have a more intimate dialogue with them, and to get to know them more as people.Īnd there was a desire for them to humble themselves a little bit. episode of "Undercover Boss" achieved unprecedented ratings for a reality series. An edited version of the conversation follows.ĬNN: The first U.S. Holzman recently spoke with CNN about the show. In a new book of the same name written by show creators and producers Stephen Lambert and Eli Holzman, bosses and employees who appeared on the program share the lessons they learned. It's apparently an irresistible question - one that has spread the reality TV show "Undercover Boss" around the world since its UK premiere last year. Can he keep up with the workers who make a fraction of his wage? (CNN) - A boss dons a disguise, pulls on coveralls and hits the production line.
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