Our first look came from Waste Managements' president and COO Larry O'Donnell, who was determined to better his policies by working side-by-side with his employees to tackle important issues in the field. What he learned changed his perspective as a leader while also appearing to improve morale, employee engagement and policies throughout his organization.
The concept of this show and its potential impact on exposing the highs and lows of company leadership can be a game changer (we'll have to wait and see). But it is particularly relevant today as recent studies show trust in leadership is low, employee disengagement is at an all time high and transparency is sorely needed.
Keep in mind that Undercover Boss is a reality TV show and with that comes the special nuances to pull in a viewing audience. Companies were carefully selected (as were employees) to ensure that organizations are appropriately being represented with minimal risk to their brand.
What is nice to see however, is that leaders featured in this weekly show aren't afried to be in the spotlight, get back-to-basics and gain insights into their companies simply by listening and observing their employees; uncovering real gaps in internal communications, breakdowns in processes and a true need for stronger engagement across all levels of the organization. It's a 21st century version of management by walking around–only this time with a camera crew in tow.
Wouldn't it be nice to see this happening on a regular basis without the camera's? It is happening. Remember Cristóbal Conde of SunGard and how he's using face time along with other technologies to engage his employees, gain valuable feedback, lead by example and show real effort toward implementing gradual cultural change. It's evident a shift is taking place in leadership styles.
Enter the real world.
How do viewers perceive a reality TV show that deals with issues in corporate America? Let's take a look. Twitter and the blogoshpere have been a buzz since last nights' airing:
What are your thoughts on Undercover Boss?
Do you think it has potential to change leadership styles in our country?
Vocii is certainly interested in seeing how this can empower CEO's, employees and businesses to improve business strategy and brand performance.
