Reality TV: “Security Cameras cause your business to fail”

Business makeover ‘Reality’ shows adorn nearly every channel and cover every type of business these days.  They are almost impossible to miss, from “Tabatha’s Takeover” to “Hotel Hell” or “Bar Rescue” and many, many, many more.  These pseudo reality TV shows all feature an expert coming in and pointing out the things that are wrong with the business.  While many of the things are the same-old overbearing manager not listening to the owner, or employees who don’t care, it seems that there is an increasing number of episodes that have been erroneously pointing the finger at business security cameras as the cause of the problems with the business.

Each of these episodes point at the stereotypical hands-off business owner, who doesn’t want to ever be at their business, but supposedly sit and watch their security cameras over the internet and then call their employees to tell them what they are doing wrong, or worse yet just sit and stew about the things their employees are doing, but never say anything.  Personally I am sick and tired of the vilification of these useful tools for business owners, which I might add emphatically, are also inanimate objects.  While I am thrilled that the technology has risen to the level of becoming a character on multiple episodes of various TV shows, I cannot say that I buy into the old adage that any publicity is good publicity.  I find the prejudicial diatribes rolling off the lips of these experts to be insulting and damaging to business owners everywhere.

The security camera systems in these shows, though accurately portrayed in their abilities, are often ripped from the business walls or ceiling, cited as evil tools that caused the downfall of the business in general.  The business owners are shown to be lazy and ineffective, because they don’t want to be at their business to have anything to do with the management of their business.  Having worked with thousands of business owners in the past 10 years, I have yet to find a single business owner who has told me that they got the cameras because they couldn’t be bothered to go into their business (despite their 100′s of thousands of debt).  Much to the contrary, every business owner that I have spoken with says they are looking for cameras because despite the amount of time that they spend in their business, they cannot be there every minute of every day.  It seems that when they are not there, things begin to happen at their business that negatively impacts their business, ranging from money missing in the register, to customer complaints about poor service.

Any business owner would see missing cash or poor customer service as a serious issue that needs immediate action.  While there are some owners that would immediately jump to conclusions, toss out accusations and immediately punish or axe the suspected perpetrators, most well-intentioned bosses see that without the appropriate evidence or information, it is impossible to make a correct judgement.  Business owners don’t usually elevate in their career to owning their own business by jumping to conclusions without appropriate information.  This is where business security camera systems can really shine. With tools in place like these, the owner can quickly and easily jump back to find out what exactly happened.  Video footage doesn’t lie and isn’t subject to interpretation, like the tainted remembrances of onlookers or employees.  This makes finding the truth of the situation fast and easy.

The portability of todays camera systems, also permits owners to connect in to view what is happening when they find themselves separated from their beloved business.  Now when a call comes in asking a question about where inventory was placed, or anything else that an employee might call or text to ask while the owner is running errands or finally enjoying their lunch at 4:30 in the afternoon, answers are only a few taps away on an iPhone or Android phone.  Workers often look to the owner of the business they work for as their guide and director, and often continue to ask questions and expect quick answers even when the owner is away.  Answers require information, so for many business owners we have worked with throughout the years, their remote accessible security cameras have become their lifeline.  With timely, accurate information they can even answer the dreaded question “Can I go home early, because it has been slow today”, by quickly taking a look and seeing whether the business has been over-staffed for the day, or if ACTUALLY it would be detrimental to let someone go.  Of course the information received from the individual asking to leave will be tainted, so without another lifeline, answering the question is like taking a stab in the dark.

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While there is no question that cameras CAN be used to micro-manage, berate, bug or otherwise cause stress with employees, more often they provide information that can lead to better business decisions and even reduced stress for employees by helping to eliminate false accusations.  I cannot say that all business owners use the tool properly, I have also seen screwdrivers used improperly too.  In fact, the owners who would use security cameras this way are the same ones who micro-manage when they are on-site too.  It is tough to believe that so many “experts” in the business world who have elevated their career to the point of making over businesses, would overlook the positive aspects of these valuable tools on a daily basis and instead tell the owners that the cameras need to be removed.  It would be nice to see even a single business makeover “Reality” TV show depict the technology in the way that most business owners use it.  If the editors and writers think that the public is sick of just repeatedly hearing that the business is sliding downhill from incompetent staff or owners, dirty facilities or poor tasting food, find a new spin.  Stop blaming the failure on the business security cameras.  A tool is a tool is a tool.  Stop blaming the wrench for the leaky faucet.