Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship With Those Above You by Rosanne Badowski & Roger Gittines

Author:Rosanne Badowski & Roger Gittines
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780385508827
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2003-03-17T14:00:00+00:00

PICTURE THIS

Occasionally, my sense of humor is misunderstood. Jack was being featured in an issue of Modern Maturity, the magazine published by the American Association of Retired Persons. They sent a photographer to our office to get pictures to go with the article. Having been on hand for dozens of photo shoots, I know how stiff and glum people start looking as they stand around waiting for the photographer to compose his artistic shots. Most photographers banter a little with their subjects to loosen them up, but the guy from Modern Maturity was Mr. Serious. Rather than have Jack staring blankly into the camera or trying to keep an artificial smile locked on his face, I started making a few jokes to lighten the mood. When the photographer suggested he stand behind a chair, I said, “For this magazine, pretend it’s a walker and hold on to the back.” That broke everybody up except the photographer, who yelled at me, “Will you be quiet!” And that worked like a charm. Instantly everybody went from smiles back to frowns and stiffness. I do try to get the last word, though. “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were using an audio camera.” He just glowered at me.

There must be thousands of individual photographs of Jack Welch, but as far as I know, there’s only one bronze bust. In 1993 he was chosen by CEO Magazine to be CEO of the year, an honor that is accompanied by having a bronze bust (technically it was not a bust, just the head) commissioned for the magazine’s private collection. Jack was leery of the idea but finally agreed. The bronze arrived in time for a big meeting in Fairfield of GE executives. Sue and I set up a table right outside the meeting room near the door. We draped the table with a linen cloth and set the head in the middle surrounded by flowers. Everybody who came to the meeting had to pass by the “shrine.” It was a mild tease, but served to let the gang appreciate the honor in a lighthearted way, without Jack being embarrassed by the fuss and pretentiousness of a formal unveiling. At least we didn’t use it as a doorstop.

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