Would You Rather Work for a Man or Woman

Would You Rather Work for a Man or Woman By, Dave Thomas Have you ever stopped to think about whether you prefer working for a man or a woman? Having been in the journalism field for some 22 years, I’ve worked under both genders and can honestly say I’ve noticed some trends evolve. At least from my experiences, men get the nod in these instances: • They tend to not hold grudges and forget disagreements quicker; • They are more comfortable generally discussing issues outside the office among other men; • They are more apt to speak their minds. On the other side of the table, women get the nod in these instances: • They think things through generally more and the ramifications of decisions; • They will go to bat for you because you’re not one of the guys in the locker room where you are in constant competition with each other; • They are more organized and therefore have a better-run system, provided it is not micro-managed. Now of course there are men who will cross over and micro-manage the heck out of you, and some female bosses will not go to bat for you because you’re not part of their circle of friends in the office, oftentimes other women. In two-plus decades in the working world, I’ve honestly not even looked at whether or not the boss was a man or woman. The bottom line to me is do they treat you with respect and give you the chance to succeed in your given position? Too often today, office politics become intertwined in the workplace, leading to unhappy bosses and employees. While many of us spend 40 hours or more at our respective positions each week, it is what you make of the job that will oftentimes determine whether or not you’re going to be successful there. I’ve been asked by several bosses over the years if I was happy in my position and I always respond the same way. Honestly, my happiness is not the most important thing. Am I a productive worker and do I get along with my co-workers, including the boss? I’ve always said that I can find happiness outside of any job I’m in; doesn’t mean I want to be miserable 40 hours a week, but my happiness in the 9 to 5 world is not something that will make or break me. A job and a boss are what you make of them. For me, it doesn’t really matter if the person I report to wears a suit or a dress. How they treat me, the opportunities I’m given to excel, and will they be true to their words are what matter most in my book. So if you expected me to say one sex is better to work for than the other, it isn’t happening. What is your experience? Do you have a preference of working with one sex over the other?