The Promotion – The Movie

I don’t see many movies these days, but I had to go see The Promotion, billed as a satiric comedy about the contemporary workplace.

I went with a friend who’s been out of the corporate world awhile, as well as her college-age son — a movie buff and will go see just about anything. Despite our varying perspectives, we all enjoyed the movie. I found myself laughing out loud in some spots.

But it’s not a slapstick comedy and it’s not really bitter satire either. The movie does raise issues related to age, desperation, and meaningless rules. And it was hard not to empathize with both contenders.

In his New York Times review, Stephen Holden wrote, “But the movie’s whimsy is undercut by its portrayal of the contemporary workplace as a cheerless corporate boot camp overseen by a grim board of directors that is as stern and vigilant as a military tribunal.”

Well, aren’t some workplaces just like that?

I was hoping to gain some great insights for my Special Report on performance reviews. Instead, I found myself thinking, “Why don’t these smart guys start their own Internet business on the weekend?”

Tags: career growth, corporate careers, movies

Self-sabotage: sign of shame or sign of awakening?

I’ve been reading Debbie Ford’s newest book, Why Good People Do Bad Things. Ford argues that self-sabotage occurs when we try to conceal our “bad” selves, i.e., when we feel shame. I’ve reviewed the book here on amazon.

My review is rather long because I was the only reviewer (so far) to withhold a 5-star rating. I kept wondering, “Am I missing something?” I do note that the book’s rank, number of reviewers and number of re-sale copies suggest a less enthusiastic response than Ford received for her earlier books

Ultimately I have to question the book’s premise, which seems to be along the lines of, “Self-destructive behavior originates with shame.” I believe people can sabotage their own career success when they’re just deeply dissatisfied with their own professional path. I have told clients that, in my experience, if you wait too long to leave a job, you may do something to get yourself fired. It would be a stretch to argue that this behavior comes from shame.

In Finding Your Own North Star, Martha Beck gives an example of a woman who blurted out a “bad” answer during a job interview – for a job she really didn’t want. Self-sabotage or self-awareness? Other authors have noted that our body reveals our true feelings and our subconscious mind keeps us from “seeing” things that challenge our wishes. Even Freud (hardly a New Age coach) suggests that forgetting something has a deeper meaning than just, “I didn’t remember.”

Ultimately Ford’s book provides food for thought but also fodder for debate.

Tags: dark side, Debbie Ford, psychology, self-sabotage, uncoscious

Promotion as stressor?

We forget that good events cause stress as much as negative experiences. Today’s paper had an article about promotions. Lots of executives find themselves in positions that call for a whole new way of viewing their careers. They spend more time in meetings. They supervise others instead of doing what they love to do.

The same principle holds in starting a business. Success comes from creating repeatable processes and marketing- not doing what you love.

Taking a step backward is rarely the answer. I find my clients get even more stressed when they take a step back. You have to get used to moving up…or consider jumping ship.