Sometimes I will be being crazy by accident and sometimes the crazy will be coming from higher up the chain and we’ll have to all be crazy together. But if it’s my crazy that is genuinely crazy please tell me after you’ve tried it for a few days first.

Loved it, for that is what “culture coaching” and value alignment is all about: Opening up existing behaviors in a way that is A-okay with the process of trying something new – even crazy things – fostering more risk-taking which is healthy, and which can be fun: Mistakes are cool. (link goes to a Talking Story tag)

I also think it IS good that managers foster a culture where they ARE the boss in that what they say is respected, listened to in a way that still welcomes questioning, and honored. In other words, and I thank Angela for reminding me of this connection! they receive the unconditional positive regard of the positive expectancy fostered in their workplace, because they have been a steward of that culture (and they gave it first, in order to receive it back).

And Rich, that is what your comment tells me you are working on – well done!

As I hinted to with my post, there were a couple of ways the show disappointed me (half-empty) and thus a lot of ways (half-full :-) that it can be a good conversation starter and/or looking glass for managers. You bring up several good questions, and I think we are at the same going-forward place in asking, “How might this be educational?” There’s much learning to be milked from the show. I chose to highlight Younger’s cautions too as a way to get started… i.e. don’t try this at home kids… learn from Undercover Boss, but don’t be one. Be an Alaka‘i manager instead.

All I can think is WHY? Surely this isn’t a game here. This is our work. My work ethic would preclude me from sneaking around and trapping or tricking employees in this way. I always clean that behavior up first at stores where I find it. That level of distrust is not something I can work with.

That being said I don’t get that at all as going on in this show. I was honestly surprised when that was someone’s take on the show. I think it’s a known problem that the rarefied air of the CEO’s rooms makes them a little crazy. All upper management is a little bit crazy (I include myself and tell my employees, sometimes I’m going to say something absolutely unworkable and stupid and crazy. Please… right when I say it, treat it as if it makes sense and try it for a while… if it’s still crazy a few days later tell me I’m being crazy. Sometimes I will be being crazy by accident and sometimes the crazy will be coming from higher up the chain and we’ll have to all be crazy together. But if it’s my crazy that is genuinely crazy please tell me after you’ve tried it for a few days first.

Where was I going? (I was going to make this a blog post but here it is in a comment.) I think that the idea of putting some of the higher ups back on the front lines to drink their own kool-aid for a while isn’t sneaky as much as it’s educational. All the communication in the world isn’t the same as actually having someone show you in concrete terms what the policies mean.

My problem with the show wasn’t that at all… it was that he sees one person who needs help in a company of 10,000 and helps them meanwhile all those other people still need the help. If there’s no systemic change it doesn’t really DO anything. It’s symbolic that he helped that lady get a raise and a promotion, and it really helped her… but how many other people are wearing multiple hats who got nothing. What are THEY Thinking now when they see this? Is it motivating for them or demotivating? There are certainly more people out there like her working hard for too little money… are they still feeling it… are they feeling left out in the cold because he didn’t stop by their place to work instead? That’s my problem. I worry it would create a “What?!? I do at least as much and I didn’t get crap?! Well forget this!” attitude if it weren’t handled very carefully.

And regarding the Hooters reindeer games thing… wow… without even seeing any more that guy’s an idiot. He KNOWS he’s being filmed and he does that? Just bad. I can’t imagine any good thing coming out of that.
Rich´s last blog ..Adrift on a sea of possibilities

“My boss is a great woman,putting much energy into her work, and on the same time always open for questions and personal matters. Without actually demanding it from us she has created a work atmosphere where everyone is trying to give its best.”

Hana hou! (Encore!) Great managers matter!

Ulla, do think about printing this page, what you wrote, and slipping it into a thank you card for her, so she knows her efforts are appreciated, and that they make such a difference to you.