Synergy Training e-article

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Aug 2006
by Karen Bremner, BBC TV's Apprentice

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Synergy training director, Shaun Adams, recently talked with Karen Bremner from the BBC TV's popular Apprentice show about her experiences and the very unique team dynamic with the other contestants and even more so with Sir Alan Sugar.



Management By Fear - The Greatest Demotivator?

The first time I sat in the boardroom on the BBC 2 business programme The Apprentice, I was there as the project leader of a hugely successful team of women.  We had taken £500 and turned it into over £1100 in less than a day selling fruit and vegetables on a market stall and on the streets of London.  Questions had been raised, and answered, about our methods but the bottom-line was there for all to see. 

I was not anticipating being heaped with praise and plaudits but what came next was entirely unexpected.  A 20 minute, very public, tirade which left the team in no doubt that, despite our success, we had been squashed like an insects and that everyone better get cracking or they could be next regardless of results.  I left the boardroom on the way to the ‘treat’ feeling despondent and like I had been kicked in the stomach – I felt like I had failed despite having succeeded.

There are as many management styles as there are managers but the style adopted by Sir Alan Sugar on The Apprentice shows many of the classic characteristics of management by fear (MBF):


The use of threats and reprisals.  The whole premise of The Apprentice is ‘do exactly as I want or you will be humiliated and shown the door’ – MBF in its purest form.

The way the team behave.  There were numerous times on The Apprentice when candidates appeared happy to lie, back-stab and duck responsibility in order to avoid being in the firing line of the boss.  I don’t think for one moment that this was natural behaviour of those people – I believe that the management culture into which they had been thrown developed those characteristics in a really short space of time.  MBF breeds a culture of distrust and vindictiveness, where ethical misconducts are widely tolerated – the message from the top is that anything goes as long as money can be made from it.

Distain for independent reviewers.  The Apprentice saw Sir Alan Sugar dismiss lawyers and business consultants with great delight and ignore the advice of his own advisers when making firing decisions.  MBF practitioners operate by believing their actions are beyond reproach.

Lack of communication.  Because candidates were fearful of reprisal they would constantly hide mistakes which had been made meaning that Sir Alan was left in a position of blissful ignorance.  This lack of communication is extremely damaging for a company in the longer term.

Questionable hiring practices. Those practicing MBF tend to ignore good personnel policies and surround themselves with people who think and act like them!

The Apprentice shows that individuals are unable to excel when they are worried about their very survival and that MBF can destroy any team dynamics and ultimately, productivity.

More than 10 years ago, successful businessman and author Jim Autry wrote ‘The last chapter on management by fear is about to be written.’  I guess Sir Alan Sugar never read the book.

DO YOU PRACTISE MBF? – Five ways to spot it!

1.  Do you proudly tell people how belligerent/immoveable/maverick you are – but you wouldn’t tolerate the same in others?

2.  Do you often single out groups of people or popular team members, who are viewed as key contributors and positive influences, simply to prove that no-one is untouchable?

3.  Do you find that your team rarely communicate anything other than positive news? This doesn’t mean everything is great – it means they are scared to tell you the bad stuff!

4.  Are you quick to blame anyone other than yourself when things go wrong – loudly and to anyone who will listen?

5.  Do you dismiss criticism from others by claiming they don’t understand you or your business?

Full of energy, confidence and with a wealth of experience, Karen Bremner is a qualified lawyer, stockbroker and ex-Royal Air Force officer. She was also one of the contestants on BBC2's second series of The Apprentice with Sir Alan Sugar. The show reached a new viewing record for BBC2 of 5.5 million. Widely considered to be the shock firing of the series, Karen left in episode three with her professionalism and integrity intact.

Karen has appeared regularly on Scottish Television and national radio since her departure from The Apprentice and has spoken at events all over the UK.  

Her legal and military training ensures she remains calm under pressure and that she is a professional addition to any event. A superb facilitator and host, as well as an after dinner speaker who is happy to cover topics such as law, business, the military, team dynamics and motivation...Contact Karen...

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