Just because it is entertaining doesn't make it real...

Last week I discussed the need to separate reality shows designed for entertainment from the reality of day to day business. It is such a compelling topic that I think it deserves more than one post, so here is a continuation…

In the camera angles of reality television, producers of such shows are looking for controversy and drama rather than a full description of the actual events. Who will undermine who and who will be eliminated become the dominant themes in short snippets of footage of a nearly impossible task. Forget the details – instead continually replay the shots that will create the most buzz to increase ratings. Also, condense days filled with many narrowly focused players into about 35 minutes of content. It is a formula that goes for the cheap shots that will play well in the previews. It is an approach that all too often translates into business through hasty judgments and subjective opinions that are based on incomplete facts and office gossip. Business judgments can be inconsiderate and grossly incomplete. Who among us hasn’t been hurt, probably on more than one occasion, by these situations? Who among us hasn’t wished that people would look at the entire situation before passing judgment? Who among us has actually made decisions based on hasty judgments?

To expand upon the thought of achieving better business acumen through improved judgment, consider this…how do you want to be judged in your particular business setting? Remember – judgment doesn’t just come from the people you report to. In business we are also judged by our customers, peers, mentors, subordinates or even external forces such as the media and public opinion. With any of those groups, would you want to be judged on one narrowly focused effort or event? Sure, if that effort suits your strengths than the judgment may be great, but, how often is that likely to happen? Sometimes we have a bad day or miss the mark on an effort. There may be countless other issues to consider such as a shift in priorities or a technology failure. Rather than taking the “Project Runway Approach “of such myopic scrutiny, shouldn’t we allow for the consideration of the entire situation?

By looking at the overall picture and trying to understand the different aspects of an individual situation, a more comprehensive judgment can be reached. While most of us don’t have idle hours to spend on every exacting detail, we can’t use that for an excuse. In dealing with judgments it is incumbent upon us to make the time. Because a quick and hasty approach plays well on television doesn’t mean we have a free pass to behave the same way. We must rise above the fray to be as impartial as possible. Admittedly, that is not always easy. In rising above we might have to face our own shortcomings or those of our organization – but isn’t that the point? Shouldn’t we face these shortcomings head on so as to have a clear view of our business reality and understand what it needs to succeed? Remember, this clear view cannot be clouded by the haze of what is produced for entertainment purposes – it has to be based on the development of sound judgment skills.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I do like some of these shows. I admire the innovation seen in the designs of Project Runway and it can be entertaining. As business leaders, we just have to remember that what is entertaining might not be real. By separating fact from fiction, we will continue on our road towards better business acumen.