A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog about the
proliferation of titles in business and I had a really valuable comment from TV
presenter and Vistage speaker, Art Halai.
Arti suggested that there is much more to the use of titles in business
and for that matter in general and it is a subject that would repay some
discussion.
Lee Thayer, noted US Vistage speaker and author, considers
that the most important factor for people in the business is the role
description. Please note: NOT the JOB
description which is too restrictive.
Logically then if the role description has been defined
accurately, theoretically there is no need for a title as such. Of course that
is not the case in general and titles of all kinds abound especially in the
public sector where perceived status can be considered as a reward.
The question is why do people need to have a title? Is it so that others know what they are there
for, could it possibly be for reassurance that there function is important or
is the basic fact that some people need a title to give them status.
When I started in business a long time ago, status was
relatively easy to define. It rested on
which canteen you ate in, where you parked your car and did the parking slot
have your name on it, was your name (and title) on the door of your office and
did your title express your seniority in the company.
The matter of canteens is an interesting one. I went at one stage to a subsidiary company
on secondment for a period of a few months and was astonished to find that I
had been allocated a seat in the mess; not, you will note the canteen. I discovered that lunch in the mess followed
a strict routine with a defined pecking order.
Following an obligatory dry sherry, the senior director
carved the joint, which was a fixture every day by the way, and seating at the
table defined where you were in the aforesaid packing order.
It was all a little surprising to me although I have to say
that I soon dropped into the very pleasant routine. However, what on earth had it to do with the
effective running of the business?
The fact is that it was all a matter of visible status. When you were invited to join the mess it
said that you had arrived and were accepted as important, admittedly in the
very small world of that company.
It stands to reason that they were also fixated on title
because a title would tell the world who you were and what you did in the
company. Status was all important and
because it was a small company (in a small town as well) by comparison with the
patent group, they felt that they needed the reassurance of a splendid title.
In essence we need to decide whether a title is merely a
status symbol or a genuine assistance to the smooth operation of the
business. Does it add or detract from
the individual?
The question then is: what is more important, the title or
the role?
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