don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Yesterday I described a play running at the Sydney Opera House entitled "Top Dog and the Underpoppy." The play deals with corporate motivational gurus and asks, in entertaining ways, how effective (and sensible) are these programs?

Speculations on that question are the focus of today's essay.

The "undisputed king of personal growth" is multimillionaire motivator Tony Robbins. Robbins unabashedly states that his brand of personal improvement psychology is about entertainment. He claims we have an entertainment-oriented culture, that entertainment will be the focus of all education in the future and it is appropriate that this be reflected in today's corporate self-improvement environment. Robbins wants "to change the way people think." Given the amount of poor quality thinking out there on a global basis, most will agree with the idea of helping people become more effective critical thinkers. How could this be other than a good thing? However, the question can be asked: Is Tony Robbins representative of the best way to better corporate thinking?

In a wide-ranging discussion about gurus and corporate training on National Radio in Australia, a group of academics and corporate leaders were asked about the "Top Dog" play and the validity of its take on the nature of employee training. Some of the viewpoints can be summarized:

• The corporate battle is for the minds of the workers. Unless companies can enlist their own people in company objectives, they cannot gain strategic advantage over competitors.
• There has been a shift by management from trying to exercise authority over workers to getting them to internalize the motivation, aims and ambitions of the organization.
• Over time, management theory has evolved from time and motion studies to what some might describe as a cross between mind-control and commitment!
• Some motivational programs seem pretty odd, with executives prodded to do a bizarre range of exercises. The objective is to prod workers to get "out of their comfort zones." Training formats include military style bootcamps, leaping out of trees, fire-walking and odd public behaviors. One guru explained that the point is to encourage workers to "get in touch with their higher/middle and lower selves."
• Millions are spent in the industry. The going rate ranges from $75 an hour to $10,000 an hour. (Regrettably, my rates for wellness talks have been at the low end of this range.)
• Most trainings are attempts to encourage improved business performance, team building and communication strategies. Controversies occur when some employees feel as if their liberties and sensibilities are not protected.
• A common criticism of the motivational gurus is that their programs seem to promote a single personality type, and many question whether it is healthy to create a uniform or a company personality.
• Another concern is that there are real, physical dangers involved in playing mind games with workers. In a training held in Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia, thirty employees suffered burnt feet in a firewalking exercise that went wrong. Though twenty were hospitalized, the organizers said there was "a bonding effect."

While sports metaphors are common in corporate motivational training, one critic noted that there are profound differences. In sport, there is a "very simple and clearly defined pathway for athletes and coaches to embark on to achieve their goals. Unfortunately business and commerce is a lot more complex than that...business is much more geared to shareholders, profits, customers." Furthermore, the emphasis in sports training is to eliminate thoughts of the spectators, weather and other distractions and focus only on elements that are under their control, such as their muscles and thoughts. Business is not so simple. In organizations, much that is not under control affects success or failure. Unable to control the variables, employees must try to adapt and refocus on what needs to be done.

The consensus of the Aussie experts was that Robbins' claims of success in changing people's behavior are "hyperbolic and not to be trusted -- there's no evidence to support his claims." Just the same, next time I give a wellness talk, I might add a bit of pumping rock music, strobe lighting, a little firewalking and pole jumping -- and then I'll try to get everyone in the room to hug each other.

I'll also charge the company fifty grand or so. Plus expenses. The moral of all this? Be skeptical of claims, verify, use common sense and make darn sure the consultants really know enough about the business to be trusted with it.

Be well, enjoy, have fun and please -- always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of effective decisions. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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