Everyone wants to know why I watch this type of television programming. I'll tell you why. It provides lots of leadership training fodder. What a fun way to learn!
In this last episode, Jackie invites the women on her training team (yes, only the women) on an Olivia Cruise (yes, the lesbian cruise line) and she asks that two of her trainers, Jessica (yes, her ex-lover and employee) and Erika to run a boot camp while on the ship. They agree to do it and put in time planning how to co-facilitate the session.
These two trainers were organized and effective. While in the middle of their training, who should appear but Jackie, who then proceeds to take over the boot camp by interrupting Jessica and Erika. Jackie takes over the session, not by requesting politely if it is okay with her two trainers and the class, but just begins by providing instructions to the participants, who, quite frankly, were a little confused as to who they should be listening to. A power struggle ensues and Jessica tries to keep control by yelling out to the group, "who wants to stay with me?" Oy, what an embarrassment.
Later at the bar, as Jessica and Erika are triangulating about how inappropriate it was for Jackie to take over in the manner that she did, Jackie again slithers up and begins arguing with Jessica and Erika. Her position? "I am the boss. I invited you here and if I want to interrupt and take over, so be it."
Now, people who know me and my leadership style know I can be tough. But my goodness, not at the risk of embarrassing my clients and my staff. She completely disempowered her trainers and demonstrated disrespect to them and to the "clients." I need to ask, "To what end, Jackie?" The only way I can interpret that behavior is ego-driven. They were getting attention and you needed some. Well, guess what, Jackie? It wasn't about you and it wasn't about your trainers. It was about the guests on Olivia and their need for a fun, professional boot camp.
As a leader, one needs to have some self-awareness and understand before one takes action what one's core motivation is. With all of the therapy Jackie has been through, I would think by now she would be a little more introspective. Oh, and the way Jackie handled her trainers' feedback? Unbelievable. While we all know Jackie has issues with Jessica (of her own making, of course) Erika was completely professional in her feedback to Jackie. Yet Jackie wouldn't even demonstrate the slightest openness to feedback by listening to learn, not to defend. Jackie, in fact, was so busy defending and rationalizing that she didn't hear what Erika was trying to communicate.
It is beyond my belief that Jackie Warner is so successful. For all of you who thinks she is, she is not because of who she is, but in spite of who she is and how she acts. This type of behavior never ensures success in the long term.
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