Source: NY Magazine

In the new reality show,  “Undercover Boss,” executive leaders go “undercover” as new hires in entry-level positions, to better understand how their organization works.

The first episode featured Larry  O’Donnell, President of Waste Management, Inc. cleaning porta-potties along with one of his employees. After each show the executives reveal their true identity and talk about what they’ve learned.

To some people this is a revolutionary concept, but I have to ask, “Why doesn’t every manager, executive or CEO take time to understand what their employees actually do at work?”

I’ve conducted numerous organizational assessments and have spoken to several thousand employees, during my last twenty years as a consultant.” My clients include; hotels and restaurants, high tech, facilities and waste management, airlines, transportation, beverage bottling and distributing, public works, and call centers.

The most common complaint and question I hear is, “Why doesn’t my manager/ director/ CEO, try to do my job?” followed by, “ if he or she tried to do my work, they would understand what I have to deal with everyday.”

This is a big “DUH!”  The common mantra these days is, “engaged employees are productive employees.”  Employees who think you have no idea or empathy for them are not going to be engaged.

Read the full story on Fast Company.

“I have missed the opportunity to be close to the day-to-day activities that are at the center of what we do and what enables us to deliver value to our clients and consumers,” Rubin says. ‘“Undercover Boss’ allowed me to better connect with the thousands of associates that make our company so successful. It was truly an amazing experience that I took to heart.”

Rubin started GSI in 1999 and at 37, he is one of the countries youngest CEOs . At age 12, he launched his first business in the basement of his family’s home.

GSI employs more than 4,500 people, rising to over 10,000 employees during the holidays and had revenues of more than $1 billion in 2009.

Read the full story on TV Watchers