The Psychology of Work

~ Clarissa

I’m doing a bibliography review and watching a pre-recorded Kitchen Nightmares marathon. The structure of the show is identical to that of another personal favorite, The Profit. Successful multimillionaire professionals try to help failing businesses by giving them money, paying for renovations, freeing them from debt, finding cheaper suppliers and huge contracts, etc. Every single time, though, it turns out that the problems of the business can’t be resolved this way because they stem from the psychological issues of the owners or messed up relationships between the workers.

Kitchen Nightmares‘ Gordon Ramsey has zero sensitivity to these issues, which is why he fails so often in comparison to the more sophisticated Greek fellow on The Profit who always begins with an effort to get people to talk about their psychological problems.

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Published by Clarissa

12 thoughts on “The Psychology of Work”

  1. ‘Kitchen Nightmares‘ Gordon Ramsey has zero sensitivity to these issues, which is why he fails so often in comparison to the more sophisticated Greek fellow on The Profit who always begins with an effort to get people to talk about their psychological problems.”

    The times i’ve seen KN I always thought that Ramsey is trying to deal with these problems – he’s just terrible at it. (Perhaps he doesn’t believe in the idea and he’s being forced by the producers which is why he’s so hilariously incompetent at dealing with these festering traumas).

    His usual tactic is just to be yelling louder and louder rather than listening and trying to use business-happy-think-speeech which is usually very far off the mark of what’s really going on.

    And of course these things can’t be addressed in the super short time the programs have (and are always systemic so that helping one person does nothing unless that person disengages from the toxic system).

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      2. Have you watched the British version or the American version of Kitchen Nightmares?
        He’s more helpful and less shouty in the British version but yes, he really doesn’t deal with anyone’s psychological issues (as if anyone really could in the structure of a tv show). There’s a lot of backsliding when he returns to visit restaurants, mainly because they don’t agree with the underlying reasons for the changes and he tends to get his way by steamrolling people.

        They could just pick people with underlying psychological issues for good television. A drama free execution of a business plan makes for a dull hour of television. Half of all new businesses fail within five years and it can’t all be chalked to someone’s psyche.

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        1. Everything can be chalked up to human psyche if it’s done by humans. 🙂

          Didn’t I have a post on the differences between the British and US versions of the show? Does anybody remember? There are curious cultural differences.

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  2. HEADS UP!

    Off-topic, but the date and location of the first “added” Democratic debate have changed. It was first announced that it would be tomorrow night on MSNBC, but here’s the scoop:

    Hillary and Bernie will debate TONIGHT on CNN at 9 p.m. eastern time in a town hall format in New Hampshire.

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    1. UPDATE ON DEBATES correction:
      According to updated Democratic debate information that literally keeps changing on various news websites, there will be BOTH a town hall forum tonight AND a standard debate tomorrow night on MSNBC at 9 p.m.

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        1. I’m starting to think he might be the family’s sacrificial goat, subjected to public ridicule to expiate the Bush guilt. Not that it will ever be enough.

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  3. Allow me to describe the multi-step process behind nearly any “Kitchen Nightmares” episode (with a few notable exceptions):

    Step 1: Show GR what you do
    Step 2: Observe GR shrivelling his nose at it in disgust
    Step 3: GR shall now deliver the Mandatory Bollocking you deserve
    Step 4: You are now invited to revise the crap parts of your service, menu, etc.
    Step 5: Expenditures and renovations will likely require your approval, and you’ll do them gladly
    Step 6: Finally the kitchen looks like it won’t cook a dog’s breakfast, and the seating similarly lacks its former gallows effects
    Step 7: Your re-opening day will be spectacular, or you’ll fail horribly (off camera)

    Optional step: You’ll get so tired of this trial-by-shouting that you’ll kick GR and his crew out entirely

    Wash, rinse, repeat every fucking episode.

    That’s why it gets tired — the formula’s almost as tiring as the crap restaurants trying to get a break from their stuckness.

    I try not to wake up early enough that I’m forced to catch “Kitchen Nightmares” during its “early morning” run on Dave etc. …

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