The Apprentice 5 Weekly Performance Review, Episode 13

Let’s talk Boardroom. Both ladies talked over each other continually – was I watching The View? That’s not intelligent debate, that’s just kindergarten. No wonder you left on such good terms, neither of you was listening to the other.

The biggest mystery of the week has to be that 37 Embassy staff members preferred Synergy’s designs better. That’s about a quarter of the total – perhaps Allie was right and the front desk crew really did want skirts after all? It can’t have been the chefs!

Allie: By being single-minded, very self-assured, and irritating others, Allie continued to let her “inner Andrea” come out this week. Even before the opening credits, referring to last week’s Boardroom Allie told Roxanne, “I was totally trying to mediate y’all.” Umm, no, you were shown busting a gut to not get involved. Musta been the editing.

Let me briefly address the topic of Co-PMs. Been there, doesn’t work. It’s not the kind of thing to have Ivanka call you out on, either. Despite all the carnage of inappropriate material and color combinations, there was one good idea buried in Synergy’s design – the culottes. However, in the Boardroom she did not own up to her idea. A maid’s job involves a lot of potentially ungainly bending and reaching, and culottes are a smart and modest alternative to the usual skirt. However, for the same reason, low necklines are not appropriate!

The uniform designs were primarily Allie’s vision. In a cameo she even expressed that she chose style over function. Regrettably, it employed color and material inappropriate for the work to be done. Pre-Boardroom, she said, “We nailed it,” showing that even at that late stage, some of the complexities of the task eluded her. For example, “sexy” for the maids was completely inappropriate. If I saw that look coming down the hallway, I’d either assume she was a time-warped hooker or that she was a maid who kept her plungers in her shoulders!

Contrary to Roxanne’s comments about her being “rude,” I think Allie’s comments to the designer were completely appropriate in both content and nature. The sleeve cuff did look hideous. The designer made mistakes using wrong material and she pointed them out in a professional manner. This was a positive for Allie this week. Well, it could have been, had she’d gotten his name right at the end…

There is another slight amendment to that last paragraph – when Allie gives instructions, she often lapses into a tone somewhat reminiscent of second grade teachers who have just discovered all the erasers are missing. Even if that’s not something Allie can easily control, she needs to be aware how she is perceived.

The rating for Allie is, of course, UNACCEPTABLE, not only for this week’s activities but for sins accumulated in weeks gone by.

Roxanne: As bad as Allie was, Roxanne was in some ways worse. Before the opening credits, Roxanne exhibited bad traits by getting her nose out of joint because she was the one Tammy chose to attack in the Boardroom last week. Funny how that happens when you don’t try too hard to win the task!

This week, Roxanne either agreed or, more often, sat there mute when Allie talked to the designer. Sitting back and refusing to contribute, then claiming in the Boardroom that she did make her feelings known, was simply untrue and unprofessional.

Before going into the Boardroom, Roxanne promised she wouldn’t throw Allie under the bus. Yet it happened, showing inconsistency.

At the top of the game Roxanne was one of my favorite players. No longer! She may not have completely deserved her firing based on this week’s efforts, but she has shown many undesirable traits in the last couple of weeks and her rating must also be… UNACCEPTABLE.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Apprentice articles:

Brian lives in Toronto where he can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He spent a couple of decades working in middle management at The Prudential, primarily hiding unsuccessfully behind the coffee machine to avoid his pointy-haired bosses. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email.

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