- September 3, 2009
- 0 Comments
You’re Out…What ‘Project Runway’ Teaches Us About Coping When Good Employees Go
It’s been well over seven hours and 15 days since “Project Runway” took its love away from Bravo.
Now that the Emmy-nominated reality show about fashion designers has moved to a new home on Lifetime, Bravo executives are struggling to fill the void the network’s highest rated reality show left behind – a struggle that any manager who has ever had to say goodbye to a great employee – for whatever reason – can identify with.
Now as Bravo strives to maintain that high viewership “Project Runway” had no small part in helping build and cut its losses, the network’s actions reflect something similar to what managers should do (and, in some cases, what they should not do) if ever in a similar situation one day:
Keep An Open Mind: It’s hard to blame Bravo for trying to replicate the success of “Project Runway” with its knock-off similar new reality series “The Fashion Show,” but the reality is that it’s unlikely they’ll find another show exactly like the original. But that’s okay….
After all, “Project Runway” was vastly different from Bravo’s first notable reality show, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” but no less meaningful for the network. And “Project Runway” only came along after Bravo unsuccessfully tried to make a hit out of the “Queer Eye” spin-off, “Queer Eye for the Straight Girl” (are you listening “Fashion Show”?). Just as it found “Runway,” Bravo will eventually find its next next big hit…maybe just not in the form it’s expecting. (In fact, another Bravo reality show with a distinctive feel – “Top Chef”– is already proving that it can hold its own as a ratings winner.)
Lesson for managers: don’t rule out candidates who have different skill sets or backgrounds than that of your departing employee – you might be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Look To Promote From Within: It’s easy to forget that “Project Runway” wasn’t an immediate hit, premiering to low ratings five years ago. It needed time to gain viewers and show how it could truly shine, which required faith on Bravo’s part – a faith that later was richly rewarded.
It’s time for Bravo to let shows like “Top Chef” and the “Real Housewives” franchise to step into the spotlight and keep the network’s momentum going. Or Bravo could very well have its next great hit among its lesser known shows like “Millionaire Matchmaker,” “Kathy Griffin: Life on the D-List” and “NYC Prep,” but it needs to keep promoting them to the right audiences and let them gain viewers in their own right to see.
Likewise, your employees need opportunities to shine as well. Let them take on projects you may have previously only entrusted to the employee who is now gone. Again, you may be surprised by what arises. Auf Wiedersehen.
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- Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention
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