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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| In praise of bravado | In praise of bravado |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| What the candidates think of themsleves | What the candidates think of themsleves |
| By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine | By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine |
| The Apprentice is back with its usual uber-confident candidates. It's easy to laugh at their posturing from the comfort of the sofa, but can we learn from this brash approach? | The Apprentice is back with its usual uber-confident candidates. It's easy to laugh at their posturing from the comfort of the sofa, but can we learn from this brash approach? |
| "I was born to do great things." Not the words of Gandhi or Mandela. Nor Einstein or Newton. No, this is the gospel according to 28-year-old car hire boss from Coventry, Majid Nagra. | "I was born to do great things." Not the words of Gandhi or Mandela. Nor Einstein or Newton. No, this is the gospel according to 28-year-old car hire boss from Coventry, Majid Nagra. |
| If I just turn up I've won it, simple as that Apprentice Majid Nagra | If I just turn up I've won it, simple as that Apprentice Majid Nagra |
| A candidate in the latest series of The Apprentice, he thinks winning is going to be straightforward. "If I just turn up I've won it, simple as that." | A candidate in the latest series of The Apprentice, he thinks winning is going to be straightforward. "If I just turn up I've won it, simple as that." |
| Such modesty. But it's what we expect from the candidates - bravado and swagger, lashings of it, enough to make the viewer shout "come off it!" at the TV screen. | |
| They do not even have the grace to blush self-consciously while describing themselves as "outstanding" or "the complete package". | They do not even have the grace to blush self-consciously while describing themselves as "outstanding" or "the complete package". |
| But ignore the strutting and preening, the vanity and arrogance. Soaring self-belief and bravado are attributes that can get you far in business and beyond, say experts. We can actually learn from the likes of Majid or Debra. | But ignore the strutting and preening, the vanity and arrogance. Soaring self-belief and bravado are attributes that can get you far in business and beyond, say experts. We can actually learn from the likes of Majid or Debra. |
| I'm a winner. I'm a winner every single month that I do what I'm paid to do Apprentice Debra Barr | I'm a winner. I'm a winner every single month that I do what I'm paid to do Apprentice Debra Barr |
| "Being extremely confident is a key essential in not only succeeding in business, but succeeding in all areas of your life," says Professor Ben Fletcher, head of psychology at Hertfordshire University and a specialist in workplace psychology. | "Being extremely confident is a key essential in not only succeeding in business, but succeeding in all areas of your life," says Professor Ben Fletcher, head of psychology at Hertfordshire University and a specialist in workplace psychology. |
| "It can inspire those around you, give them more confidence and drive them on to improve themselves. That can be colleagues, friends or family." | "It can inspire those around you, give them more confidence and drive them on to improve themselves. That can be colleagues, friends or family." |
| Back it up | Back it up |
| One high-profile exponent is football manager Jose Mourinho, who possess enough confidence to refer to himself as the "special one". | One high-profile exponent is football manager Jose Mourinho, who possess enough confidence to refer to himself as the "special one". |
| NOT SHORT OF CONFIDENCE "I'm a special one"- football manager Jose Mourinho"We're the best band in the world" - Noel Gallagher of Oasis"I always thought I should be treated like a star" - Madonna | NOT SHORT OF CONFIDENCE "I'm a special one"- football manager Jose Mourinho"We're the best band in the world" - Noel Gallagher of Oasis"I always thought I should be treated like a star" - Madonna |
| He is teased, gently, for saying this, but backs up this belief in his talents with results. He led Portuguese club Porto to the Champions League title, and under his management Chelsea won the Premier League two years running, as well as two League Cups. | He is teased, gently, for saying this, but backs up this belief in his talents with results. He led Portuguese club Porto to the Champions League title, and under his management Chelsea won the Premier League two years running, as well as two League Cups. |
| Confidence in the workplace is absolutely essential, particularly with so much uncertainty, says Michelle Mone, creator of Ultimo lingerie and co-founder of MJM International. | Confidence in the workplace is absolutely essential, particularly with so much uncertainty, says Michelle Mone, creator of Ultimo lingerie and co-founder of MJM International. |
| "It helps productivity, it gives people a 'can do' attitude and it creates a positive working environment. People who don't have confidence don't speak up, they don't feel free to innovate and they don't believe they can succeed. | "It helps productivity, it gives people a 'can do' attitude and it creates a positive working environment. People who don't have confidence don't speak up, they don't feel free to innovate and they don't believe they can succeed. |
| "A healthy level of confidence is the cornerstone for performance and success. I try to be confident in every work situation. As a leader it's hugely important to have a high level of confidence and to keep morale up amongst your team." | "A healthy level of confidence is the cornerstone for performance and success. I try to be confident in every work situation. As a leader it's hugely important to have a high level of confidence and to keep morale up amongst your team." |
| It could be of course that you are here because you are good with words - you know the right thing to say at the right time Sir Alan to the candidates | It could be of course that you are here because you are good with words - you know the right thing to say at the right time Sir Alan to the candidates |
| Part of the reason why the average person in the street squirms at the thought of such self-promotion comes down to being British, says workplace psychologist Gary Fitzgibbon. | Part of the reason why the average person in the street squirms at the thought of such self-promotion comes down to being British, says workplace psychologist Gary Fitzgibbon. |
| "We don't like blowing our own trumpets, it's not what we do. But it's not seen as anything negative in America. If someone is good at something it's perfectly acceptable for them to be outspoken about it." | "We don't like blowing our own trumpets, it's not what we do. But it's not seen as anything negative in America. If someone is good at something it's perfectly acceptable for them to be outspoken about it." |
| 'Vulgar' | 'Vulgar' |
| But being confident can easily flip from inspiring to insufferable, and that comes down to integrity. Bravado is hard to stomach when it simply cannot be true, says Professor Fletcher. | But being confident can easily flip from inspiring to insufferable, and that comes down to integrity. Bravado is hard to stomach when it simply cannot be true, says Professor Fletcher. |
| Business is the new rock 'n' roll and I'm Elvis Presley Apprentice Philip Taylor | Business is the new rock 'n' roll and I'm Elvis Presley Apprentice Philip Taylor |
| If an apprentice candidate claims to be the UK's best salesperson - as they often do - you are left wondering why they are on the show. Shouldn't they be sitting in a swanky office somewhere counting their billions? | If an apprentice candidate claims to be the UK's best salesperson - as they often do - you are left wondering why they are on the show. Shouldn't they be sitting in a swanky office somewhere counting their billions? |
| "A person cannot claim to be brilliant at something, or the best, if their achievements to date are very modest," he says. | "A person cannot claim to be brilliant at something, or the best, if their achievements to date are very modest," he says. |
| "It shows a potential lack of integrity, and such a portrayal is a risky thing. If your confidence is shown to be worth nothing, you will come down like a house of cards. People will have a field day. | "It shows a potential lack of integrity, and such a portrayal is a risky thing. If your confidence is shown to be worth nothing, you will come down like a house of cards. People will have a field day. |
| "It's best in a workplace to be bullish and strong, but at the same time show modesty and empathy. Say you are brilliant at something but back it up and recognise that other people have talents too." | "It's best in a workplace to be bullish and strong, but at the same time show modesty and empathy. Say you are brilliant at something but back it up and recognise that other people have talents too." |
| "I'm the apprentice - end of," said Ruth, only to lose to Michelle | "I'm the apprentice - end of," said Ruth, only to lose to Michelle |
| Extreme confidence backfires when it becomes arrogance, says Ms Mone. "A confident person isn't afraid to make a decision, but at the same time will listen and take on board other people's views, whilst an arrogant person will believe they're the only person who could be right." | Extreme confidence backfires when it becomes arrogance, says Ms Mone. "A confident person isn't afraid to make a decision, but at the same time will listen and take on board other people's views, whilst an arrogant person will believe they're the only person who could be right." |
| So it's not wise to claim business is the new rock 'n' roll and you're its Elvis Presley, like one of the latest batch of candidates, Phillip Taylor. Especially not if you're an estate agent. | So it's not wise to claim business is the new rock 'n' roll and you're its Elvis Presley, like one of the latest batch of candidates, Phillip Taylor. Especially not if you're an estate agent. |
| "You just look at this guy and think 'what are you going on about?'" says former contestant Michelle Dewberry. "I find such statements vulgar and arrogant. I think the trick is to be quietly confident." | "You just look at this guy and think 'what are you going on about?'" says former contestant Michelle Dewberry. "I find such statements vulgar and arrogant. I think the trick is to be quietly confident." |
| And she knows, having won series two of The Apprentice in 2006. In the final she beat Ruth Badger, who'd confidently predicted from the off that "without a doubt" she was the apprentice. Turns out she wasn't. | And she knows, having won series two of The Apprentice in 2006. In the final she beat Ruth Badger, who'd confidently predicted from the off that "without a doubt" she was the apprentice. Turns out she wasn't. |
| Ms Dewberry, who left Sir Alan's employment just months after winning the show, and now runs her own consultancy firm, says when you brag, you set yourself up for failure. | Ms Dewberry, who left Sir Alan's employment just months after winning the show, and now runs her own consultancy firm, says when you brag, you set yourself up for failure. |
| "It's about under-promising and over-achieving, rather than over-promising and under-achieving," she says. "But that wouldn't be so much fun for the people to watch, would it?" | "It's about under-promising and over-achieving, rather than over-promising and under-achieving," she says. "But that wouldn't be so much fun for the people to watch, would it?" |
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