Business Lessons Learned From Reality TV

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Stephanie Trussell
Filed Under Best Practices | View Comments

I am not ashamed to talk openly about it – I absolutely love Reality TV and, sadly, I share this passion with the majority of my co-workers. Something about the mindless entertainment of Reality TV characters helps me tune out the noise of the day and unwind. The Hills, Jersey Shore, and The Bachelorette are some of my favorites. In addition to learning fun pop culture tidbits like the importance of GTL (Gym, Tan, Laundry) and knowing what  “The Situation” is — if you try hard enough you can actually glean some important business lessons. The cast of Jersey Shore

Here are some fun takeaways from The Bachelorette this week you may not have picked up on if you weren’t paying attention:

Lesson One: Have a Purpose

Great reality shows have a single purpose – to generate ratings. And they will do whatever it takes, even if it is a little harsh, to get viewers to watch their show. For example; the producers had to put aside any personal feelings when they knew in advance that one of the final three contestants, Frank, would break Ali’s heart on national TV. Because they kept their laser beam focus on their purpose, they succeeded, and in fact, ratings went up and it was one of the most viewed airings of the program to-date. In the working world, it’s easy to stray from your purpose. Make sure to always outline your goals and mission, be clear about your purpose, focus your energy on that and stick to it. This will make you successful each day.

Lesson Two: Attitude is Everything

While Ali was certainly disappointed in Frank’s decision to leave the show, she took the news in stride after shedding a few dramatic tears. She didn’t dwell on Frank’s departure, but instead regained her composure, focused her attention on the remaining two men and honed in on the positive side of the situation. In the working world, a positive attitude means everything. It’s contagious. If you feel good about exceeding a metric or winning a new client, everyone will. If you are confident in your presentation, that enthusiasm and hard work will shine through. The reverse is also true – a bad attitude can fill a room with doubt and you’ll find your success slipping away. Keep your best foot forward and let your positive energy and attitude lead the rest of the way.

Lesson Three: Listen

Everyone wants to be heard, but it’s more important to listen. Ali spent most of her time on the show asking the men questions and listening to their answers. While she was trying to figure out if they were compatible and she had her own agenda, she invested time in listening first. The same rules apply to business. Information gathered in the way of feedback from colleagues, partners, clients, etc., is invaluable and should not be overlooked. Even when your own plan or agenda seems like the best path to take, be careful not to steamroll; share the floor and listen to each other – you could be surprised at the improvements made as a result. Keep your ears open at all times and make sure everyone knows you are always open to listening.

Lesson Four: No Egos Necessary

Many men came into The Bachelorette casting process confident they were the perfect match for Ali. Those who exuded too much bravado were the same men that walked out the door on the first night.  No one likes to work with egotistical co-workers or partners either. Their overbearing personalities are difficult to work with and make for an uncomfortable and non-collaborative environment. This certainly isn’t productive for anyone. Set the precedent for how you expect others to work and lead by example. You’ll be surprised to see even those with the biggest egos will follow suit to fit in.

Lesson Five: Hire The Person, Not The Position

While seemingly any attractive, semi-communicative woman without a criminal record could be cast as The Bachelorette, the producers did a good job of finding a person that ultimately had more than those qualities. Ali had natural chemistry with many of the men, wasn’t afraid of the cameras, believed in the role, and as a result, adapted to situations none of the producers could have predicted when they casted her. It works the same in business – while the people you hire need to have a certain set of qualifications, you can’t hire for situations you don’t yet know will occur. Hire the best person for the job with the qualities you most admire in a colleague and the rest will fall into place.

So what are your favorite business lessons from reality TV? Please share them with us. And, if you don’t watch Reality TV maybe it’s time you start. You never know what you will learn!

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View Comments to “Business Lessons Learned From Reality TV”

  1. Rachel Levy on July 26th, 2010 2:22 pm

    Great post, thanks for the humor in a business environment!

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