I have done a lot of secretarial temping over the years and have worked with and for a wide variety of different types of people. Sadly, my experience of female bosses has been mostly negative with some of the female Apprentice candidates bringing back some horrible memories for me.

Bosses from hell for me would be the two Jennifers: ginger Jennifer because she's bossy, domineering and has a loud but monotonous voice and Irish Jennifer because of her cold and bitchy demeanour. Others like Claire who have achieved management positions because of their mouthiness rather than talent are also my worst nightmare.

Of all the girls I reckon Lucinda would be the easiest to work for because of her eccentric but likeable manner combined with good management ability.

Of the men, I would say that the Matt Lucas-a-alike banker would be the hardest to work for, mainly because, well, he's a bit of a tosser really.

Opinions?

Lucinda would be great to work for.
Raef would be highly entertaining and I don't think he's too much of a backstabbing scumbag to work with.
Simon would be good, obvs.
Alex would be an utter unbelievable nightmare as boss or colleague.
I think he and Jenny M would be the absolute worst possible colleagues. Kevin, Jen C, and Claire would also be horrendous to work with. Linzi would probably not backstab, but my god would it be annoying to go into an office filled with her and her miraculousness every day.

Lucinda wins by miles.

Ideal: Raef or Lucinda. Both quirky, easy going and bright.

Nightmare: Claire. All mouth and no substance.

Sara, the Asian girl i think - id get on with her loads, my kinda girl.

lucinda too, alot of laughs to be had with her.

Raef - for being a legend.

This thread is actually a really good way at seriously considering who should be the apprentice. I mean, the eventual winner will one day manage ordinary folk so who we'd want to work for is a good litmus test.

The emphasis of the show has always been weighted towards sales, but this is proving that we'd all rather work for managers who are natural and affable leaders of people. F**k their sales ability.

Lucinda for me too. And Raef. They're the only two who seem like they'd be democratic and humble enough to let their team shine and who'd play to individual strengths for the greater good rather than their own glory. That's the mark of a great manager.

Lee - he is a bit of a ruff neck like me!!

We would probably wrestle

I like that thought

But as far as I can recall a "great sales" person has yet to win the Apprentice. Saira, Ruth, and Kristina are all fantastic sales people but, didn't win. I only really noticed this in Motor Mouths, and I now think there is something in the approach of a top sales person that doesn't really help them to become good managers. Maybe it's the drive and assertiveness that is needed to close a sale which doesn't work when trying to get your team to perform.

I tend to agree with the majority, I would prefer to work for Lucinda and Raef.

Great to work for/ with - Simon, Lucinda, Raef, and Lee

Awful - Claire, Kevin, Jennifer, Jenny, Helene and Michael

Very accurate assessment and one with which I entirely agree.

The candidates have polarised opinion along particular lines and I think that these two groups illustrate the differing qualities which each candidate possesses as a type of "boss".

Good to work with/for:

Lucinda, Lee, Raef, Simon, Sara


Bad to work for:

the two Jennifers, Lindi, Clare, Kevin, Michael, Helene


Not sure:

Alex - I think he would be brilliant in the right role, and if he respected you, but if not, he could be difficult.
Last edited by booklover : 24-04-2008 at 09:12

Lucinda as boss, Simon as colleague.

Simon, by a mile.

Lucinda - did very well last night and clearly she must have been really good to have got praise from Lee and Helene. Not sure how much I trust her though - didn't like her using Helene to attack Jennifer.

Raef - I think he's funny and I think he'd be great to know socially. Think he might be irritating to work for though. He was part of that whole sales love-in last night, though he isn't getting blamed like Lindi and Jennifer.

Lee - was much better last night. If I'd only seen him last night I'd think he was lovely. In previous I've thought him a bully, so it shows, I suppose, how much is in the edit.

Sara - she seems fine and pretty straight-forward.

Don't like the others, but I do change my mind a lot so who knows really. The only one I'm certain of is Alex - I definitely wouldn't want to work with or for him. Week after week, he's just focussed on putting the blame on others.

I think Lucinda would be too fluffy a mamanger for me, I think she is too easily swayed. I admire a manager who devises a stratergie and goes with it and brings her team with her. For me i dont think Lucinda has the ability. I think Raef has and maybe Lee. Sara might with training get there.

I'm getting very wary of judging people such as Jennifer who only took centre stage for the first time yesterday.

For example Claire was a hectoring bully for the first few programmes then in last programme she was much more relaxed and even in tears at the end.

How much are the producers manipulating things to create heroes and villains for us?

Bad:
Alex - he's more interested in apportioning blame at any given moment (and insisting on the blame game being clear cut and understood before he will allow things to progress)... plus his views on what happened are not entirely consistent with the real world (ie he tells fibs to cover his tracks!). He heads my list of bad potential apprentices
Kevin - out of his depth!
Jen - nope!
Jenny - a terrible bully!!

Not sure
Clare - hated her at first, but she's mellowed a lot

Good
Lee - seems brilliant, we'll see. Seems professional, good to work with, and has charisma
Lucinda - thought she was rubbish, turned out to be a good positive leader
Raef - like him, but not 100% sure

Lucinda, Raef, Sara and Lee (in that order)

The ones I couldn't work with would be Jenny C - absolutely hideous scary woman and Helene (just too damn aggresive).

The rest i'd give a try - although I reckon Michael and Lindi would annoy the hell out of me!

Lucinda seems like a really nice person but I'm not sure I'd want her as a boss. I've had a manager before who believes in that 'fluffy', 'everyone must have fun' approach and nobody respected her. I think that may be Lucinda's downfall (which is a shame as she's my favourite from the women).

Like a lot of people, I'm coming round to Raefe. He was excellent in his task where he was PM and his management style seemed laid back and not controlling, but authorative and assertive.

Wouldn't want to work with Alex at all. He seems like a total snake who's really playing a game.

Lucinda, but I don't know much about the guys. They're pretty quiet just now.

NONE of the other females, though. They're all control freaks with inflated opinions of themselves, and not Kevin, the banker who can't add.

As a boss ~ Lucinda as she'd probably bring out the best in me
As a colleague ~ Simon or Lee as both seem supportive, have a sense of humour plus the're cute

None of them as a boss, Simon, Lucinda and Raef as colleagues

that's it - I wouldn't want to work with jenny, jennifer, claire, alex, kevin or michael

definitely wounldn't be able to cope with Helene or Jenny C. the others are better. I think if on her right side, claire would be tolerable.

Because I do not know any them Icannot judge them based on a TV programme. Lets imagine the pressure they under to perform. But if I am forced to choose it be as follows:

As business colleagues not bosses-I do not know their real strengths:- Lucinda/Raef/Sara/Lee/Helene/Simon/and the first girl fired.

As for the others I would want to get to know them.

Babeth

It is difficult to judge based on this TV show.....I like to think I could work with anyone - but I think I may have problems with Jenny, Jennifer and Kevin!

Helene or Lee (maybe Rafe)
The rest would be too dumb, completely inept or too effing rude!!!