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Think Titles Don't Matter to People?
Apr 4People care about their titles. If you’ve been to one of those “new managers seminars” at your company, don’t buy into three myths they tell you:
- People don’t work for money (Hint: They do)
- People can’t be trusted (Hint: Trust works both ways)
- People don’t care about titles (Hint: How’s “Peon” sound to you?)
The business card scene from American Psycho is pretty telling about #3. Think titles (and business cards) don’t matter to people?
[via Swissmiss]
About the Author
Frank Roche
Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.
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i know people at my last job who took title changes and no raise. I can see a title mattering to you, but if it doesn’t change responsibility or money, then it’s useless…
Hello Frank,
You’re right: “peon” doesn’t sound particularly good to me, although it is probably the secret reality behind a lot of titles, once they’re properly decoded.
The hints for your three points are tremendous – and I’ll bet scenes like those offered in the video are played out – perhaps even with similar secret drama – in many places where business cards are flaunted like family crests newly adopted by . . . well, by peons.
Thanks for an excellent, delightful – and provocative – post!
Hi Jim, “assistant vice peon” is even worse, I guess.
You’re right, I think a lot of titles are just that. Thanks for the kind words!
ChrissMari, that is right on the money. It’s why I put #1 in there. People work for money. Fake titles and title inflation don’t work unless there’s substance to back it up. I just hate to hear stories of “lateral moves” and new titles without money. It’s ridiculous.
Titles tell a lot about a company and a person. In the movie clip, the job title was “Vice President”. Simple but vague. Or take the job titles of the rivals Dwight and Andy in the hit show “The Office”: Regional Director over Sales and Assisant to the Regional Manager. Even though both job titles appear to be different, they both do the same thing at the office and have the same number of direct reports (zero). The worst job title I’ve ever heard is by a GM factory worker who placed car parts up on pegs. The job title was Hooker.
My old boss was called Global Operations Director (GOD)…now there is a job title.
Like the new look on the blog Frank!
Aaron, that’s where vacuous titles have the opposite effect of their intent. It’s gotta have to heft to it. And that’s the funniest title ever at GM. OMG.
Scott, I guess no one questioned your old boss. He was the ultimate authority.
Hi,
Previous company allowed everyone to pretty much create their own title (small and fast growing company). It seemed everyone was calling themself a director. When asked by Board for a current list of employees and titles, I jokingly gave them the employee list with the word in front of all the titles (even those who didn’t already put it in). The Board didn’t even question it.