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Zevar -> RE: I Have Been Dubbed The "Dragon Lady"....oy. (10/12/2010 12:46:12 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MissAsylum
This weekend, I worked a fashion event where I was the head makeup artist where I was filling in for another person. I'm not trying to throw dirt, but the people working under me had just short of appalling behavior. Standing around talking, walking off set, giving attitude to customers and models...the list goes on. Now, I've haven't been in charge of anybody in a formal work setting for a few years.
When I was in charge, I was strict, but I didn't deliberately push people around just because I felt like it. Now, with the event, many of the women under me were older than me, so immediately, I got the rude stares and eye rolls. But when I decided to have them actually work, they gave me grief every step of the way. When I talked to the person I filled in for, she said a couple of them called me Dragon Lady, and that I wasn't interested in knowing them as people. It became clear that she coddles her employees.
Looking down the road, could having this kind of reputation harm my chances for getting more work?
It is true that a certain style of leadership is inclined to inspire loyalty & respect thus resulting in effective productivity. However in the situation such as fill in Make-Up Artist within the Fashion Industry there is not time to inspire those you do not know and have been asked to fill in during a time of need. It is noted in management when a situation becomes rebellious then naturally to become firmer in a balanced manner with those who are insubordinate to be the right action.
Clearly if this position was a steady full time employment situation then your demeanor would need to become much more inclined toward inspiring the best of all involved through demonstrating what you expect of those you manage. Strictness in times of fast needed action related work duties is can be in certain instances an effective way to rule those under you who become insubordinate. It is not always effective though and surely not the best approach with those who are unwilling to cooperate.
Some in management disagree that a balanced approach is effective. Many want quick results and no rebellion at all. Total obedience is a noble goal yet not realistic when considering the humanity of all people. This stern and strict approach is not possible for many people to submit to. It most often is viewed as condescending. Or that management is better than those who are not management. One could say it is more geared toward appearing to be elite/exclusive and unlike those who you manage thus lacking the ability to demonstrate inclusiveness.
Most people respond to a balanced approach that unites everyone as equal among their peers and in unison with management on some level. While on the other hand another school of thought would be more inclined to advocate that managing those who become insubordinate is altogether a waste of time.
Perhaps even a less negotiable school of though might propose to instead rule in all instances and if those you rule choose to remain insubordinate then they have set their own consequences. Your needed shift in attitude was required and will always be required if you plan to manage people.
Your choices do affect your outcome to a degree as does your future situations give you opportunity to employ a method that would produce effective management while not treating those you manage as less than you even if they behave insubordinate. Go a step higher and show those you manage through your actions that there conduct is altogether unfounded by way of being the example you expect of them to demonstrate.
Hopefully you will set in action a reputation as someone who is a no nonsense sort of Lady, one who is fair, reasonable and always approachable. Perhaps you will always strive to become someone who will tolerate no less than excellence by your living example of uncompromising work ethics and integrity. How could one not respect a Lady such as that, aye!
Take good care, Dragon Lady! (smile)
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