I have been a Woman With A Career (and sometimes just a Woman With A Job) for the past 26 years. In those years I have seen women ascend in workplace stature from "just a secretary" to "our Senior Manager". As with all things, I've seen mixed results. Not everybody is a Super-star, and some seem destined to dwell in the basement. Most women I've known find a comfortable place in the middle, regardless of job title.
Some are just entirely clueless. Which leads me into this particular rant.
I am currently watching the Branch Manager at my beloved Plant Company crash and burn. It's interesting to watch, but disturbing at the same time. I'm not exactly sure what kind of wild-ass stories she wove into her resume, or told during the interview process, but they must have been whoppers. She got the job. And she is, bar-none, one of the most unqualified candidates for her type of position (Vice President, which she wears like a badge of honor) that I have ever seen. But that doesn't make watching her twist in the wind any more comfortable for we (clerical) observers. I don't think that she's a bad person. I just think she's very confused.
I think that it all boils down to Respect. And it's Respect on a lot of levels. Here (in my always humble opinion) are the levels to be considered:
Self-Respect: You've gotta like yourself. It's KEY. I don't think that she does. She's physically adorable, and dresses beautifully. On the flip side, she speaks in a FAKE Brit/Aussie accent, speaks openly about her various plastic surguries, and shows her staff her matching underwear sets and, uh, strategic piercings. In staff meetings. (Ewwwww!) More importantly, she doesn't take her job responsibilities seriously. She's much more interested in being Barbie, The Branch Manager (complete with little pink desk accessories). And she doesn't respect herself enough to present herself as a professional.
Respect For Others: By virtue of the fact that she's sharing (what should be) very personal things with her direct reports, without regard to their sensitivity to such things, she obviously does not care if she's making people uncomfortable. As odd as it seems, I think that she may be looking for respect and admiration. (Or maybe she's just an exhibitionist...a whole realm of psychoanalysis that I'm certainly not qualified to discuss..) More importantly, she's sorely lacking the kind of leadership and support skills that her staff so desperately needs. And she doesn't respect her team enough to find a way to learn, develop and hone those kinds of skills.
Being Respected: She doesn't seem to understand that Respect is something that you earn and not something that you get as a result of your appearance, your parentage, your job title, or your salary. Sadly, I doubt that she's ever gonna figure this one out.
I don't think that she'll be in her job much longer. But I have every expectation that she'll soon find another one just like it. I also expect that she'll continue to have the same problems.
And it's all about Respect.
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