One of my guilty pleasures is watching “Hell’s Kitchen” because this reality-TV train wreck combines my two passions: competition and food. Each contestant has to survive not only as an individual but as a member of a team to win the Grand Prize. Advancing through each round depends on whether your team can communicate, cooperate and collaborate during the assigned challenges. If you can see past the personal attacks and backstabbing, (I mean that figuratively since the image of Chef Ramsey always has him holding a knife), each challenge can offer valuable examples of group communication that lead to winning ways.

In a recent episode, the challenge was to prepare a special dinner honoring a Marine sergeant returning from Iraq. Chef Ramsey selected a representative from each team to discuss the menu with the sergeant’s wife. Robert represented the Blue Team; Suzanne the Red. Both reps met with the client at the same time, so each heard the same things in terms of her wishes and her husband’s tastes.

Robert communicated everything the client said about the menu and the sergeant’s background to his Blue Team members and allowed them to share their ideas. After their brainstorming meeting, each team member started working on his assigned dish. Suzanne used a different strategy with her Red Team members, dictating the menu, assigning cooks to each dish, and giving specific instructions on how each dish should be prepared. When her teammates asked for more information about the guest of honor, she gave short answers and dismissed them. She assumed the role of the dreaded ‘Information Hoarder’.

When it came time to present their dishes, it was apparent which team had the advantage. Each chef from the Blue Team presented his dish with confidence and enthusiasm. Each chef collaborated with the menu and was able to relate to the client and discuss and defend his or her choices. The Red Team was not as prepared. Their dishes were good, but they presented them like rookie waiters, very uncertainly and unappealingly. The client was impressed with how the Blue Team seemed to know her husband’s favorites, and selected their menu. The dinner went very well for the Blue Team and more importantly, impressed Chef Ramsey.

The lesson here is that great teamwork involves open and free flowing communication. The sharing of all available information, gives each member the opportunity to make valuable contributions to the team, strengthening their commitment to the effort. It makes collaboration so much easier and empowers each member to produce to their best work. And getting their best work is why the client chose the winning team.

Photo courtesy of Fox Broadcasting