Career Progression
Conformance
I have no voice. Growing up in a family business, life revolves around business. Employee more than a child, invisible, my voice has no rank, I am unimportant. Lacking confidence, my personal assumption is that I deserved what I was or was not given. As my career begins, this guidance follows me, even though I give 110%. Amid a lack of self-esteem, emotions turn into anger which manifest in negative ways. I assume that I was unable to speak my mind or stand in my truth.
The youngest of 4 children, the only girl, it’s as if I am an only child growing up. A shy child; my fears of speaking began at an early age. My parents owned their own excavating company, and as my brother came of age, there was an unspoken obligation that befell upon them, or so they felt. I always had to go with my parents, didn’t really have many friends since we lived in the country. My parents would spend time with their friends and I would have to go, adult conversations everywhere I turned, I was to be seen and not heard.
The family business, more than our livelihood, it was our life. From the time I could talk proficiently, I was answering phones and greeting customers that came to our home. The business was run out of our house, so there was no separation, there was no family time. It was always business as my parents did not set boundaries, it was always about business and the responsibilities they had to support all of their employees and their families.
Vocal
Sitting in a dimly lit conference room, we all take our assigned seats and prepare for Randy’s degrading comments and berating questions. Randy hires capable individuals to perform tasks associated with their position but his micromanaging nature overshadows, silences, and breaks our spirits. Constant criticism, even though unjustified. Favoritism is evident as only Randy and his inner circle are obliged to promotion. Upper management can see our struggle, yet Randy still remains in a position of power because of a lack of interest of applicants for the position he holds. After much turnover, low morale, and a thinly stretched management team, Wendy, the president of our division strongly urges Randy to critically reflect on his management style to bring the team together. Randy begins to change, however for the management team, Randy’s suspect change of heart is much too late. His repeated requests for support, ideas, opinions or advice goes unacknowledged from our management staff, but no one dares to respond due his previous behavior.
As a Quality Manager, I was stationary, interacting with the same colleagues and finding myself in a situation that needed to change but due to my current hierarchical position, my voice is stifled and my education and experience is overlooked, all of the characteristics that are me.
I’m miserable, unhappy and desire to be valued, to be a catalyst to the improvement of business and to those that I generally come in contact with.
As I have moved up the hierarchical positions among various organizations, I’m unwilling to be pushed down or held back from promotions or overwhelmed with responsibilities. I have given myself permission to do what’s best for me, the focus is no longer solely on the well-being of the organization. During my annual review, I decided tell my boss that I was unhappy and no longer wanted to me a quality manager. Randy asked me what I wanted to be and I shared my desire to become a project manager. Randy immediately responded with, “You are not qualified because you do not have an Engineering degree.” When I got home, there was a message from a recruiter asking me if I was interested in interviewing for a project manager role. I returned their call immediately and said yes. I was excited. When they offered me the job, there was no fear, just a smile that has not left my face.