Get a Grip
Newsflash: You’re Not That Special
Bettering Yourself. But NOT in a Good Way…
For years, I played back this demeaning evening over and over in my mind.
My boss got food poisoning and had to run at the end of the day — literally. On her way out, she asked me for a special favor. I agreed (kinda’ had to). So she instructed me to let our CEO, Brian, know she wasn’t well and was sending me in her place to an industry awards dinner put on by one of our business partners.
I prepped myself. Because our CEO pompously made it known that only HE and select upper management were worthy of being the face of the company. But it was so last minute. And my boss had faith in me.
I gave myself a little pep talk to have the confidence to knock on Brian’s door and let him know I would accompany him that evening. Brian didn’t look pleased, but it was the eleventh hour, so he had to make do — with little ol’- me.
Having said that, I was in the industry almost as long as my boss and knew how to play the corporate game. Even though the CEO seldom acknowledged my presence and looked down on me when he did, I knew I was up to the task.
This wasn’t my first rodeo. I had no problem fitting in with this (or any) crowd. People always love my subtle yet strategic ability to make the conversation all about them. Works like a charm!
When we arrived at the venue, we made small talk with local who’s who whilst consuming microscopic hors d’oeuvres in between taking small business-like sips of mediocre wine.
Then, my CEO spotted the guest of honor. “I should go meet him.” He said nervously out loud. He was more intimidated than I was. This was a mere human being, after all, albeit a far luckier one than most of us, in my eyes. Bring it. I thought.
But as we were about to make our way to where the awardee was standing, Brian shot me the LOOK. And said in the most uppity way, “You better hang back, Shirley.” Accompanied by his incredulous googly eyes indicating only HE and his title qualified him to speak with the guest of honor!!!
That humiliating experience serves as a reminder of how important it is to always be as inclusive as possible.
In addition to how I was treated that day, I remembered a story a marketing professor had shared. To paraphrase, a strategic leader he knew once asked where the office cleaner was during a company brainstorming session. Employees laughed. The leader wasn’t having it. He maintained that everyone had something to contribute and insisted they wait until she was found.
Of all the ideas staff came up with, the cleaning lady remarked that she used to work at a hospital and thought their company’s specialized toiletry products could be useful to make preop more efficient. Thanks to her, that corporation started reaching out to the hospital market and won. Big time.
That’s why my former CEO’s attitude sickened me. Who knows how many fabulous ideas his snobbery made him miss out on! Not to mention all the fabulous people. Like me.
Recently, I came across this brilliant post that reminded me what’s behind that shortsightedness …
That says it all!
Thank you for reading my story.
Thanks to Mark Suroviec, M.Ed. at Work City.
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