You're an assertive, take-charge kind of person. You refuse to
take guff from anyone, and in order to get the job done you've
been known to lean on people. Sometimes you use forceful language
and may even threaten to make life difficult for those who cross
you, if that's what it takes to reach the goal. What kind of impression
do you make on the boss?
If you're a man, chances are you get a pretty good performance
review. If you're a woman, you're out of luck. Intimidation tactics
not only won't help your job evaluation, but they're also likely
to hinder career advancement because the boss won't like you.
That, in a nutshell, is the conclusion of a recent Journal
of Organizational Behavior study conducted by Mark Bolino,
an assistant professor of management in Notre Dame's Mendoza School
of Business, and William H. Turnley of Kansas State University.
The study, which examined administrative employees of a state
law enforcement agency, found that men received higher performance
evaluations when they used intimidation tactics, while women received
no such benefit. Also, unlike men who were not penalized, the
more women used intimidation tactics, the less they were liked
by their supervisors.
The study suggests that gender stereotyping related to forceful
behavior on the job continues to be an issue, Bolino says. "[M]anagers
need to try harder to ensure that gender stereotypes regarding
'appropriate' behavior do not contribute to unfair treatment of
their employees." The Notre Dame business professor concludes
that unless and until the overall culture changes, women use intimidation
for career advancement at their peril.
Even for men, Bolino cautions that the tactic is risky when
so many organizations now emphasize teamwork. People today who
are seen as abrasive may be viewed as liabilities because they
upset the effectiveness of the team, he says.
* * *
(Autumn 2003)
