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The Apprentice

The Apprentice

18 Nov 2010 | 09:55

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This week’s task was to create a backdrop for a DVD that customers could star in. One team picked a motor racing background and the other a skiing setting.

It was a fun and interesting task; creating a product, bringing it to market and selling it. Again this week we watched the candidates do things that they would never do in real life, including dressing up as a giant penguin! As a candidate, this is what is so brilliant about being in the show. It takes so many different twists and turns, taking us into so many different experiences, all of which will live on in our minds for a very long time. We all learn big lessons but it’s the range of things that we have to do that makes it such a valuable and memorable experience.

The results were close and only £40 separated the two teams in the end. Stuart was the team leader of Apollo - he did a really good job of annoying the heck out of his team (and most of the country viewing it too) - and Sandeesh was the team leader of Synergy.

This week Sandeesh bore the brunt of her team’s failure. She was always on a sticky wicket because she had been on the losing team several times and had been in the final three more than anyone else. It was difficult for her to continue to fight her corner.

However, what I liked about both teams this week was their flexibility of strategy. All the management texts tell us that planning and strategy are of the utmost importance - but equally as important is the ability to change strategy depending on its degree of success.

The worst thing you can do is stick to a strategy when it’s failing. Of course, when there are lots of things to consider, a change of strategy can be a difficult thing to execute but changing direction is much better than sticking to your guns when they are not working properly.

The key to a successful organisation is one that thinks on its feet, is bold and takes action when it’s needed. It’s not about conceding but finding a new direction - and taking people with you in the process.

Comments

1. At 11:46 on 18 Nov 2010, Susan Johnson wrote:

Stuart deserved to go!! He was very annoying and had no idea how to manage women. And how rude to mention Stella's age?? As if over 30 equals dead and stupid!! Here's hoping hes out next week.
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2. At 12:09 on 18 Nov 2010, Heather wrote:

Stuart is anoying the hell out of me too. He made sure that he got his racing car experience in though. Maybe the team should have taken deposits on orders placed and at least then if they weren't picked up some money would have been re-couped. A very luck man!

I am glad to see the back of Sandeesh though.
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3. At 12:10 on 18 Nov 2010, Valerie wrote:

Stuart is a "real apprentice" if you look at one of the definitions - "One not well versed in a subject" and that has to be his people skills !
As one of the youngest candidates there he maybe feels he has more to prove as he knows he probably doesn't have the same experiences. Here's hoping his brash approach and ability to offend is softened off during his working life.
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4. At 14:07 on 18 Nov 2010, Monica Caroline Redmond wrote:

Stu's gotta go next week. Another 20 years, never mind 10, will never get him into the same class/league as Stella.
Her final dispassion8 verdict on the other team summed it up eloquently - 'lucky for you we made so many screw ups, you could/should have won'. All the better as it was delivered gracefully with a delightful 'killer look' at Stu. Dare I say in PM, it's an 'Apprentice boardroom' skill that seems more prevalent in the current female team members - Stella and perhaps Liz and Joanna?
I look forward to Jo's epitath on Stu next week when he will be at home playing with his 'extreme masculinity'. Mind you, can't see him going with the same grace as Sandeesh - who's judgement shortfall alone called time on her last night - oh and £40!!
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5. At 11:21 on 19 Nov 2010, Hedda Bird wrote:

And the biggest un-truth of all was Lord Sugar's throw away comment at the end 'There is no luck in business'. Ask most of the succesful entreprenuers and top business people around today and they will all tell you there is a lot of luck involved.
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