Having kids I end up watching a few cartoons, probably too many. I did however read an article about how one mother was using Sponge Bob Squarepants to teach lessens in customer service to her child (http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/10/07/5-things-spongebob-squarepants-can-teach-you-about-business/). (Apparently I am not the only parent that watches cartoons.) The article got me thinking about what could I take away from the cartoons my kids prefer.
One of the cartoons that my kids watch is Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. It is about a kid with a special gizmo (omnitrix) attached to his wrist that will allow him to transform into different aliens (the kind from other planets, not other countries). Ben with the help of his cousin Gwen and their frenemy, Kevin Levin, go around battling bad aliens, saving the earth and the universe. In a recent episode Ben was being scolded by a short little grey alien who is the creator of the omnitrix. Ben started to walk away and tell his compatriots they needed to go find the bad guy. Gwen asked Ben if he was going to listen to the short alien. Ben replied along the lines of “Why should I, yelling at me isn’t going to help us find the bad guy.” And as smart as he was the short little alien agreed. And just like that the proverbial light bulb clicked-on above my head.
Fortunately, or unfortunately if you are looking from a different angle, I had an opportunity to try this out in the work place. A particular video was written over shortly before it was to air and because of this error it never aired. I was upset for both myself and knowing how much work had gone into the video I was upset for the employee that worked on this video. When it came time to confront the control room and ask what happened with the video I thought about Ben and the little grey alien. I found out the facts, I found out that it was an accident and I found out how bad the person that had accidentally wiped it felt. I also thought about how yelling wouldn’t help the situation. It was “spilt milk.”
Even though Ben is younger than his team mates he is their leader and as the show has progressed this has become more evident. He has gone through several of the stages that many managers (people for that matter) go through in real life – dependance upon the wisdom of a mentor, unsure footing after cutting the apron strings, king of the world hubris, recognition of limitations and trust in the team. Some things have stayed constant throughout the show. His planning, most of the time his plans are broad scope and put together on the fly and they are highly flexible, and the outcome of the situation. Whatever villain the team faces they attempt to take down that villain with the least loss of life or harm. In the most resent season finally Ben learns one of the hardest management lessons – making the tough decision isn’t always the easiest or the most popular. Ben strays from the outcome he usually puts himself at risk for and wants the villain to be eliminated. In the end he goes along with a plan to save everyone and things work out, as they often do in TV land, but several of the characters do comment on Ben’s change in attitude and maturing as a leader.
By now you might be thinking I have gone over the deep-end reading so much into a cartoon, and you might be right. I do find it interesting that once you open yourself up to the possibility even “old dogs” can learn new tricks from cartoon super heros.
