Sweet, Dark and Crazy

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Me and My Big Mouth

I recently responded to a request for an interview. The reporter wanted to know if people preferred working for male or female bosses. Since I have an opinion on about just about everything, I jotted off a quick email about why I tend to prefer working for men.

Men tend to keep things more professional, and at least to me, they are easier to read. They also don’t hold grudges as long. In my experience, although I have had several really good female bosses, most of them tend to mix the personal with the professional. If they have a problem, you never really know if it is work-related or if something else is involved. Also, I’ve had several female bosses who just can’t make a damn decision. I mean seeking the input of others and trying to build consensus is a good thing, but it has its limits. After a while, somebody needs to make a decision and stick to it! A feeling or two might get hurt but that’s part of the business.

So I rolled off this rant and promptly forgot about it. Several days later, I get an email from the reporter. She loved my answer and wants to put it in an article … on ABC News’s web site. So I’m excited. I’m happy. I’m going to be featured in a story on a major network news website.

Woo Hoo!!! Yeah, Me!!!

Oh shit …

Wait a minute…

My boss, my boss’s boss and my boss’s boss’s boss are all women. Yikes. So here I am, about to be written up in a major publication and I have to use an alias.

Damn. Damn! Damn!!!

Part of me says “What the hell, use your name. Your real name. Your real full name!” But then the rational part of me says, “Anyone can see it and if they do, it only takes one person to show one of my cabal of female supervisors and managers.” Great.

I do have an alias. I just didn’t want to use it for something as frivolous as an article. I’ve been saving it for something big - just in case I ever had to go on the run or move to another country to evade taxes. Did I want to share it to the world now?

The crisis however, was averted when the reporter offered to make up a name for me. Sure, I’m bummed that I can’t share my name with the world and the entire ABC.com audience. But, on the bright side, my secret alias is still a secret … waiting patiently for the day when I will really need it.

Labels: Foot In Mouth

posted by SDC @ 7:20 PM

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