What “The Apprentice” could learn from NOLS

Thursday night is rolling around again, and that means one thing in my household. We will huddle eagerly in front of the television for the much-anticipated weekly episode of Donald Trump’s smash hit “The Apprentice.” It’s always chock full of classic reality TV moments: boardroom drama, bickering females, corporate-sponsored projects, and always my favorite—the most-annoying-apprentice, the one who makes us cringe and yell at our television sets.

But there’s something else we can count on in each weekly Trump drama: absolutely abysmal communication skills all around. Admittedly, the disastrous way people work together on the show is part of why we watch it. But I can’t help but wonder: Is this really how the movers and shakers in corporate America work? I also can’t help but think that they all could benefit from some NOLS leadership training.

Here’s an example. For many of the show’s project managers, effective leadership means ordering your teammates with military-style authority. While this may be the way to lead a team of infantrymen headed into battle, it doesn’t work in the boardroom. And it doesn’t work on a NOLS course. At NOLS, leadership is all about teamwork. But the whole notion of working together to achieve a common goal is lost on most project managers, who seem to be more concerned with playing the bully than using the kind of communication tools that motivate NOLS teams to the summit of Denali.

And then there’s the other end of the spectrum—project managers who can’t seem to communicate at all and instead “delegate,” which usually consists of assigning duties and then running for the hills. Here they stay until the project’s over, hoping the team figures it out without them. Good grief.

And then there’s judgment and decision making—perhaps one of the most critical NOLS leadership skills. Throw that out the window on Donald’s show. Does leaving the logo off a company’s marketing materials seem like a good idea? Or trying to sell salad dressing on the street by yelling out that the product doubles as foot lotion? No, and no!

Finally, it must be stated that the only “Apprentice” cast member who displays some modest communication skills is Donald’s blue-eyed side-kick, Caroline, who best excels at the NOLS leadership skill of timely feedback. If she has a problem with you, the stoic Carloine can be counted on to speak up. But does she always do so in the most positive way? No. Most candidates react to her feedback with tears.

So just imagine if they all took a page right out of the NOLS Leadership toolbox. There’d be teamwork, communication, tolerance for adversity, and sound expedition behavior, or what NOLS calls “E.B.” If we could only get a NOLS grad on the show, Caroline would get a run for her money. But all that effective leadership and communication would be boring, what with everyone working together. No, I think I’ll stick with my weekly dose of project fiascos, inept leadership, and behind-the-camera back-stabbing. It’s more fun that way.

-Kerry Brophy, NOLS Publications Manager