Member Blogs

During a recent mid-year review I was giving, I gave the opportunity for the employee to give me some feedback.  He said that he felt like sometimes I was power hungry and enjoyed being in power of the men who work for me. 

Huh?  So I decided to reflect on this.  Yes, I enjoy my job.  Do I enjoy being in "power?"  Well, I guess so.  I enjoy making decisions, knowing what's going on in my department, balancing my budget and receiving compliments about my department.  Does that make me power hungry?  Would he have said this to me if I had been a man?  Would I have cared if I were a man? 

I often use my experiences as a mom in the work place.  Many of the men who work for me are like children and therefore, I often treat them as children.  When disciplining my daughter, I always strive to have a clear, compassionate and decisive win.  I want her to know I'm in charge.  I'm the boss.  What I say goes.  There is a time to disagree, to compromise and to negotiate, but no matter what, I'm the head of the house.  Does that make me power hungry?  I do the same things at work.  I am fair, consistent and trustworthy.  Does that make me power hungry?

I've decided that the employee who gave me the constructive criticism should be treated like a teenage boy rebelling from his parent and who thinks he knows it all.  I'm in a position to nod my head and say "I see your point" and casually go on about my business, contemplating my next power trip which will inadvertently happen over something like glazed or chocolate donuts.