If Traitors were a Company...

If Traitors were a Company...

I am obsessed with Traitors (season 2, BBC iPlayer for those not in the know!).

Yes, the tasks can be a little weird/dark/not that interesting sometimes, but the whole thing works. Every episode builds up to the 2 main events each day:

  • The Roundtable (where they banish people)
  • The Traitors Tower (where they murder people or recruit new Traitors)

After studying Behavioural Science for a year, I find it even more fascinating to watch so many of these cognitive biases play out. I mean I'm sure all of us have shouted at the TV at some point "this is not a popularity contest!!" to the faithfuls (perhaps that's just me...).

The more I've watched it, the more synergy I see with workplace culture, particularly in relation to the main event of each episode...

The Roundtable.

I mean, this is every meeting room in the country at some point?? Think about what we see every week:

  • The popular person usually influences the whole group, despite great alternative views being expressed
  • "Evidence" (think data) is disregarded for gut feel
  • Men, unfortunately in this series, seem to dominate (the comment by Claudia in the Traitors tower is one of the BEST moments this season)
  • Generation divide
  • Listening to speak rather than to understand
  • Groupthink (EVERY. SINGLE. TIME)
  • Anchoring Effect (the first person to speak often anchors the conversation on a particular person, same in meeting rooms where the first topic can often dictate the whole session)
  • etc....etc...

So, given all of this synergy between Traitors and Workplace Culture, I thought it would be interesting to consider which contestant would fulfil which role in a fictitious company! I give you, Traitors Inc...

CEO: Paul

I mean it has to be? If it's not him then he'd just knife his way there anyway...

Why is he the right candidate?

  • Able to influence everyone around him to the extent of blind loyalty
  • Calm under pressure (until the last day maybe)
  • Can show vulnerability (questionable how authentic it was!)
  • Ruthless in pursuit of performance (no explanation needed?)

Question marks...

  • Zero authenticity
  • Some questionable decision making (the dungeon...??)
  • Overconfident
  • He would destroy the culture...and probably the company...

Chief of Staff: Charlotte

One of my favourite contestants. She could do anything, but I like her for Chief of Staff to the CEO

Why is she the right candidate?

  • Loyal (to Paul especially, hence the role)
  • Empathetic to everyone, even people hostile to her (Jasmin)
  • Influences people around her (very very strong character)
  • Work ethic (the cabin episode...)

First Time Manager: Andrew

Imagine it. The nicest person in the team, life and soul of the group, always happy and carefree. Then they're given their first manager role, and they face the reality of what the company wants them to do to people...

PANIC ensues.

They aren't comfortable. They're stressed. they don't like what they're being asked to do. They don't feel themselves anymore. They don't trust the bastards around them...

PANIC.

Head of Legal. Diane

You want someone sharp as a razor, someone who can face horrible situations and be calm. Someone who can keep the dirty company secrets and not even give a glimpse of the truth at any point. Someone who scares everyone around them so that they spend their time completely intimidated by her.

It can only be Diane (she was my absolute favourite!).

COO: Harry

Behind the charm and charisma of Paul the CEO sits the brains behind the operation, Harry. Full of ambition to be the top dog, Harry the COO is quietly pulling the strings, making the CEO feel like he's the prodigal son whilst at the same time plotting his downfall.

Harry is that company whisperer. The one who knows everything about everyone. Who you kind of like but kind of don't trust but you aren't sure why. You're always nice to them in case they tell someone senior something about you that will harm your career...

Head of IT: Jazz

The Head of IT needs to be someone really smart. Someone that can see the path ahead, that has clear vision and ideas... but ultimately has to be someone that no one listens to.

Head of IT can only be Jazz.

External Management Consultant: Claudia

Contracted for an eye-watering rate of money to ultimately sound amazing but provide no actual answers. Makes everyone think that they are god without being accountable for anything at all. Everyone thinks they are brilliant but no one knows what they do. She would be the best Management Consultant of all time (I think she's awesome btw, so maybe this role isn't right for her!)

What role would you give to people???

I cant wait for the final!

Helena Zaum

Passionate about how technology can transform social care and integrated health and care. (She/Her)

10 个月

Love it!!

Bill Fairclough

PAST COVERT ROLES: Intelligence Agent, Founder Faire Sans Dire PAST OVERT ROLES: Director Barclays Group, Vice President Citigroup & Manager Coopers & Lybrand (PwC)

10 个月

If you liked #TheTraitors you'll love reading about a real secret agent running in the fields in the fact based spy novel Beyond Enkription. It is a psychological roller coaster just like The Traitors. In fact it is so real that wannabe Traitors should read it before applying to participate. Indeed, if only the participants had read Beyond Enkription, things might have turned out differently. ? TheBurlingtonFiles series of fact based spy thrillers is about Pemberton’s People in MI6 and how Bill Fairclough (MI6 codename JJ) aka Edward Burlington survived over two dozen attempted murders. There are two news articles in TheBurlingtonFiles website dated 7 August 2023 and 31 October 2022 that detail these incidents and who in MI6 helped him survive. They (along with Beyond Enkription) are must reads for espionage cognoscenti. ? The news about Pemberton’s People and Bill Fairclough was released several years after Beyond Enkription was published which makes it all the more intriguing. It is now mandatory reading on some countries’ intelligence induction programs so if you plan to be a Traitor you had best read it. See https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2023_06.07.php and https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2022.10.31.php.

Camilla Young

Chief Firestarter | Helping ambitious retail leaders be bolder, think bigger and achieve extraordinary - without compromising values | Visionary leadership | Strategy consulting | 1:1 & group coaching | DM me for more??

10 个月

Brilliant, thanks for sharing Sean! So much group think. I’m also fairly convinced that the producers knew exactly how to push Brian’s buttons and set up the mission questions to make that happen.

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