Last night after the Super Bowl, I settled in to watch the newest pseudo-reality TV show called Undercover Boss.

Early reactions to the show were unsurprisingly mixed.  Click HERE to read how this show is ..."the worst argument for capitalism since Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel The Jungle..."

Or click HERE to read how this show is "...an intriguing new series."

My opinion is very simple:  "I liked it, but..." and I have a few buts.

I liked it, but...

• this is what executive leaders should be doing as part of their regular routine, and not just when a TV show tells you to do it. 

I liked it, but...

• I am not stupid.  I know that the episode is edited in such a way that the CEO is always going to come out looking like the good guy or gal.

I liked it, but...

• we are never going to see what happens next.  Did the task force for women drivers really happen?  Were the time clock procedures really changed?  Did that middle manager make the changes to become more employee friendly?  We may never know...

I liked it, but...

• at the end of the day, private companies and their boards and stockholders are going to demand a profit.  The bottom line will always win.  While it is a novel concept to try and mix productivity and efficiency with employee empowerment, it is much more difficult to implement.

One of my favorite leadership initiatives when I worked at Disney was the holiday Cross-U's, which stood for Cross-Utilization.  During the busy holidays of Spring Break, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Christmas, it was MANDATORY that all "backstage" leaders pick up a shift "on-stage" in a theme park.

That's right!  If you worked in accounting, finance, HR, IT, or any other of the hundreds of backstage roles, you were required to pick up a shift...just like the Waste Management CEO did on last night's show.

For over 10 years at Disney, I (and thousands of other leaders) made popcorn, cleaned bathrooms, changed hotel linens, swept up trash, refilled condiment machines and numerous other front-line roles during those busy weeks.

I loved it, and the Cast Members in the parks and resorts loved it!  It connected you with the job.  It allowed "corporate" to get a feel for what it really is like on the front lines.  It gave me a new respect for every job and every employee.

If you want to be a successful leader, make this idea part of your annual plan.  3-4 times a year, you should pick up a front line shift, answer the phones, do custodial work, or any other front line work.  It will build respect between you and your employees, and it will give you a new reason to care about your business and your people.

And you don't need a TV show to do it.

By the way, Undercover Boss will continue to air on CBS on Sunday nights at 9:00 Eastern, 8:00 Central.  Be sure to tune in this week where we see the CEO of Hooters watch as one of his restaurant managers hazes his waitresses and creates a hostile working environment.

So many jokes, so little time...