What Does Gordon Ramsey Have To Do With Work Training? A Lot.

5 Ways Reality TV Can Improve Vocational Training

We’ve all seen these types of shows, an expert is brought into a real, struggling business to rescue it. Of course, the business is saved. After all, an expert is an expert.

This genre has shows like “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Hotel Hell” and “24 Hours to Hell and Back.” They don’t all include Gordon Ramsey…but many of them do. I call these “Vocational Shows.” This type of programming has been a mainstay in the prime-time lineup for years. The content is entertaining, but it is also uniquely educational.

Here are 5 reasons why Vocational Shows offer incredible value in teaching core work skills.

Common ground

When teaching core principles it’s important to show the universality of those principles. When your students see that the work skill of controlling your emotions is just as important when working in a hotel in Rochester as it is in a restaurant in Brooklyn or a bar in Buffalo, they are able to see how those principles are universal. Being on time for work is important if you are a Uber driver or an E.R nurse.  Getting the right training is important whether you are a yoga instructor or a bus driver.

When these programs show vocational lessons highlighted in a variety of settings, the significance of those lessons is driven home. Jobs can be very different from one another, but all jobs share required skills. Those shared skills can be instilled through committed study of this content.

Unmatched access

In order for me to give a class a close look at the inner-workings of a business I have two choices:

1) Bring my whole class into a workplace for several days and be granted access to every interaction and conversation. We would also need to be lucky enough to witness key teaching moments while we’re there. I can’t think of a business in the world that would allow me to do that.

2) Study the footage from shows like Gordon Ramsey’s to see every aspect of that workplace.

These shows let you see every mistake an employee makes. They let you see every customer’s reaction to the service. They let you hear the employees tone when speaking to their manager. You get all of this access with dozens of cameras and world-class editing. If you want to show someone the ins and outs of a workplace, this type of television programming can’t be beat.

They’re models, but not in the way you’re thinking.

Gordon Ramsey and other programs give your students great examples of what not to do. It’s very difficult to catch an employee’s worst moments in real-time. You would have to be everywhere at once. On the other hand, these shows let you stop the tape to ask, “What did that employee do wrong?” Or “How could they have handled that situation better?”

Since only a struggling business can be “rescued,” you are guaranteed to catch many mistakes that can be studied and made into lessons. One of the best parts is that since you’re not in a physical workplace, there are no feelings to hurt. You can talk about an employee’s mistakes openly without insulting anyone.   

Now that I have your attention

Gordon Ramsey is entertaining. Most of these shows are entertaining. In fact, just about everyone watching is watching to be entertained. Most people aren’t watching to improve their vocational skills. Using these programs to teach seems non-traditional, but they keep a student’s interest. This practice becomes most effective with an instructor to point out the lessons.

They desensitize the sensitive

While nobody has the right to yell at someone else and profanity doesn’t accomplish anything, the simple fact is that vulgarity is used in some settings. Gordon Ramsey uses vulgarity. If you have students that are easily offended, this footage could desensitize them. Through consistent exposure from a safe distance, individuals sensitive to profanity might be more likely to keep their composure in the presence of real-life swearing.

Work-related, reality TV is an effective tool to teach work skills. It provides access to a wide variety of real work environments and many teachable moments at your digital fingertips.

If you or someone you know is interested in attending our Vocational Training through Media Class, please reach out for a free intake meeting.