Guilty pleasures

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

We all have those things that we secretly enjoy - the ones we might hesitate to admit to our more discerning friends.

A guilty pleasure is something we enjoy despite knowing it might be seen as uncool or unconventional. But if thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of people enjoy it, then is it still classed as ‘guilty’?

A TALE OF TWO HOTELS

My wife and I recently went to London, and we stayed in the ‘DoubleTree by Hilton - Tower of London’. The image that accompanies this blog is the view from the window – just fabulous!  This is my favourite Hilton property in London.

We were in London to see the West End production of my favourite television comedy show ever – Fawlty Towers.

The show is set in a fictional hotel of the same name in the English seaside town of Torquay. The show revolves around the misadventures of its rude and incompetent owner Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, the incompetent waiter Manuel, and the exasperated waitress Polly.

A SHORT RUN

With only twelve episodes, the show had a short run.  However, it achieved critical acclaim and has an enduring legacy, as signified by the fact it has its own West End show.  It remains a cultural touchstone, celebrated for its sharp wit, memorable characters, and impeccable comedy timing.

Fawlty Towers endures because it taps into universal themes of frustration, misunderstanding, and the absurdity of everyday life.  Its short run made it a niche show that many enjoyed, and still enjoy – it’s certainly a guilty pleasure of mine.

LESS INTERESTED

After seeing Fawlty Towers on the Friday evening, my wife and I joined some family and friends to see a music concert on Saturday evening.  For those who know me, you know I love music –all music.  However, when we booked the tickets, we were less interested than usual.

We went to watch Girls Aloud, and to be honest, I loved it.

In the realm of music, guilty pleasures are often the songs or bands we might not shout about from the rooftops but still find ourselves singing along to in the shower.

FUN COMES FIRST

Girls Aloud, a British-Irish girl group, emerged from the reality TV show ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ in 2002, bringing together five female singers. They may not create the kind of music that earns critical acclaim, but they are undeniably enjoyable.

It seems strange to say that nostalgia played a part in the fun, as the group were only formed in the early 2000s.  However, that’s over twenty years ago!

I can honestly say that Girls Aloud are a guilty pleasure – but I guess, if I can announce this publicly, then it’s no longer guilty, right?

KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES

Now, rather than being a blog about my weekend escapades in London seeing two of my guilty pleasures, the point is that we should be embracing others’ opinions.

Do you know what your colleagues are in to?  Do you know what they enjoy, or what they did at the weekend?

It is easy to say that we are all unique.  However, this makes our experiences unique, which therefore means we should treat each other as individuals.

Being into particular television shows or music groups help us to find affinity with others, or conversely embrace our differences.  I mean, where else will you find a HR specialist who enjoys Fawlty Towers and Girls Aloud?

EMBRACE THE PLEASURES

Why should we embrace our guilty pleasures rather than hide them? Because they are a part of who we are. They bring us joy and comfort, and they can connect us with others who share our secret loves. By celebrating our guilty pleasures, we give ourselves permission to enjoy what makes us happy.

YOUR PEOPLE ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSET

Do you treat your team like individuals?

A positive workplace culture is often a top-down strategy.  I always say that your people are your biggest asset, and they should be treated as such.

If you need help with your HR processes, including making your workplace an enjoyable and positive place to work, please do not hesitate to get in touch to see how my team and I can support you.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

“What would you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window?”

This is a line from the greatest comedy sketch ever, in my opinion.  It was from ‘A room with a view’: an episode of Fawlty Towers - go and check it out on YouTube.

‍

- Ends -

‍