Coach Deb’s post-boardroom Analysis and Coaching Tips from this week’s episode, Week 7 of “The Apprentice“

Lenny (Goldrush) was as different a project manager from Michael (Synergy) as night and day.

Results from this week:

Synergy - hit the mark - because they understood the concept of incorporating teamwork and the flexibility and variety of the games available.

Synergy’s project manager, Michael mentioned “Teamwork” several times in his presentation. His team ticked me off this week, because they didn’t seem to want to give him any credit. Yet, it was his leadership and ability to listen to his client’s needs and then carry it out that differentiated his team’s success over the others.

Sometimes “Leadership is lonely” and that’s what Michael experienced this week.

Getting a new face from Ace - Michael even melded the ACE brand right in to the banners that hung in the room, seamlessly, as the executives from Ace Hardware Paula & Rick expressed as their goal during the initial interview.

ACE helps their community by helping the boys and girls clubs of America, project: “New Faces for Helpful Places”.

Goldrush - on the other hand, had a leader who simply “didn’t listen.” To anybody. To his teammates, to the executives, even to his partner Lee at the end when he tried to help Lenny stand up for himself in the boardroom. (What a great list he prepared too!)

As entertaining as Lenny has been up until this episode, I found him to be giving way too many excuses this week - which really didn’t seem like him. Frankly, I think he was just plain tired. The Game caught up to him this week. Arrogance will also kill you when it comes to managing and leading a group. He dismissed Charmaine, yet he wasn’t even there to see how much work she was doing while he was lost in New York.

Success Secret of the Week:

Often, success is all about “sticking-to-it” and perseverance.

What do you think about this week’s decision? Was it a no-brainer for you?
Were you shocked?

Or did you predict it from the get go?

Share your comments below…

Coach Deb

Coach Deb’s post-boardroom Analysis and Coaching Tips from this week’s episode, Week 6 of “The Apprentice“

Whether or not you’re dreading the words, “You’re FIRED!” from Donald Trump on NBC’s popular TV reality show, The Apprentice or whether you want to “Get Hired” to work for someone, or simply want to earn a client’s business as a business owner or executive yourself, there are certain rules in business that you MUST follow in order to increase your influence, be admired, respected and ultimately - land the job!

We can learn a lot from a “hindsight” perspective into the successes and failures of this week’s candidates.

Rule #1 in business:
Don’t be late!

Back up Rule #1 in business:
If an emergency arises…

• CALL your prospect, client, or potential employer to let them know you’re going to be late.
• Give them your NEW ETA - and then - make sure you’re there at the new time.
• THEN - immediately upon arrival - build rapport back up by immediately apologizing profusely for being late.

This sign of respect and humility does two things:

1st - and most importantly - it demonstrates to the other party that you respect THEIR time immensely and know how valuable time is.

2nd - it builds rapport back up - which will be CRITICAL in their decision making process when they decide whether to give YOU the job - or your competitor who organized their time well enough to be on time - the first time!

LASTLY - and this is a “DO NOT Rule”

Do NOT evade your clients questions - EVER!
ESPECIALLY when they are asking you directly about WHY you were late - or why your product or service doesn’t do x, y or z in their minds.

Bryce (Synergy’s Team Leader) seemed to “dismiss” Doug’s (Executive and key decision maker from Arby’s) question about WHY he was late by TRYING (quite unsuccessfully I might add) to deflect with his first point of the meeting - WRONGO!!!! This is not only another huge rapport breaker - it is ALSO incredibly RUDE!

Clearly, this was Bryce’s biggest mistake!

“Gold Rush also went to meet with the Arby’s execs, but they were almost a half hour late. When the execs asked Bryce why they were delayed, Bryce ignored the question and moved on to the task at hand.

Instead, if you satisfy a potential client’s concerns, or initial “hurt feelings” you’ll decrease their apparent frustration and be able to move toward establishing rapport with them.

However, if you pretend their complaint or point isn’t serious or real, then your client will quickly see how important they’ll be in the future, once you have them as a client.

Think of this process as “a courting phase”. If your date expresses something she (or he) doesn’t like about what you did or didn’t do on the date - would you just ignore their statement/frustration and then try to kiss them?

No! (Unless you’re a complete nimwit and don’t know the slightest about impressing a woman.) Instead, you’d address their concerns, discuss them, and “come to terms” so to speak in order to make sure all parties are satisfied and happy again.

THEN you move in for the kiss - I mean kill - I mean sale! LOL Well - you get my point by now - right?

Coach Deb’s conclusion at the end of Week 6:
Bryce was practically ASKING The Donald to fire him.

Especially when you consider the two people he decided to bring into the room.

Bottom line about the Game, The Apprentice:
Trump wants to PLACE BLAME somewhere.

What Bryce seemed to FORGET in the course of this game - is that “The Apprentice” is just that - A GAME.

It’s NOT a real interview.
It’s NOT a real company team - not yet.

It’s STILL a group of competitors - and as much as Bryce tried to “INFLUENCE” his “team” the night before about telling them how he’s not going to “throw anyone under the bus” he needed to remember that he was still playing a game to “Get Hired”.

Bryce’s biggest success:

While Bryce’s actions may be PERFECTLY respectable with a REAL team - and certainly wins points with the general public who watch him on the show - it unfortunately showed The Donald that Bryce didn’t know how (or didn’t want) to single out the person who contributed to their “loss” which is the SOLE focus with The Trump Brand.

In all reality, what Bryce did to bring this chaotic, self-obsessed team together during this episode, and how he did in fact win their respect as they all complied with his request for “A united front” demonstrates his leadership ability, AND showed him as a true influencer.

IF he ONLY would have used his influencing abilities with the Arby’s executives, Doug and Debbie - well - he might still be on the show.

Coach Deb’s FAVORITE PART OF THE SHOW:

Bryce’s LAST comment in the cab ride “home”:

“Maybe Trump should listen to other people once and a while.”

LOL!

IF only more people had the guts to talk to Donald Trump that way - it would make for a MUCH more entertaining show.

That was probably one of THE most HONEST feedback scripts we ever got from an Apprentice candidate.

Boy - if Trump were to look in a mirror - would he see Bryce?
Hmmmmmmmmmm
What do YOU think?

Enter YOUR comments below.
Let me know if you thought it was time for Bryce to go - or whether you thought someone ELSE should’ve been fired - and if so - why?

Coach Deb

As heard on The Wayne and Jayne Show
All Hit KBS
West Kootenay Region
British Columbia.