 |
Timing is everything Pitt Picks His SpotsBy Rick Horowitz Click. " -- and right here at the Broadcast Hut, a very pleasant 73 degrees. We're coming up on ten minutes past the hour, and you know what that means, don't you? Yes indeed, boys and girls, it's time to...Ask Harvey! That's right: Straight from Washington, DC, and through the miracle of modern technology, we've got the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission standing by once again to answer your questions about life in the big, bad business world. Greetings, Mr. Pitt -- how're you doing this morning?" "Couldn't be better, Terry -- great to be here." "And we're always glad to have you, Harvey. So let's open up the phone lines -- first caller, Leo from Louisville. He's all yours, Leo." "Good morning, Terry. Good morning, Harvey. First-time caller, long-time listener -- I've got a question about being underappreciated on the job." "A great topic -- let's hear." "Well, I've been at my place for a year, a year and a half now, OK? And I think I've been doing pretty fine work under a whole lot of pressure. Anyway, it seems like there's a lot of people watching me every step of the way, and it's always negative with them. For some reason they've got lots of influence, and some of 'em won't be happy until they've got me tossed out of there." "And you want your bosses not to pay attention to all these naysayers." "Exactly." "To stand up for you when the criticism comes." "You got it." "OK. What I'd do? First of all, you know who these critics are?" "Sure. They've been right out in the open about it." "OK then. I'd go right to the critics and tell them I want a raise." "A raise?!" "A big raise. Absolutely. There's no better way to let people know their criticism isn't getting to you than to ask for more money. You get them to go to your bosses and say, 'Hey, pay this guy what he's worth!'" "I see what you're saying, Harv, but these particular folks don't think I'm worth much at all." "All the more reason to do it! Let 'em know they're not dealing with some wimpy little bureaucrat, that you know how to stand up for what's right. I was in that same situation myself the other day, and that's exactly how I handled it -- I asked my critics to push for a big salary jump." "The other thing, though? The budget's kinda tight at our place right now. I'm not sure looking for more money for myself would, you know, send the right message?" "Leo, the only message you'll be sending is, 'I'm good, and I deserve it.' In fact, while you're at it, you should ask for a promotion." "Come again?" "You heard me. See, money isn't the only way your bosses can show they recognize your value to the company -- there are other things they should be doing, too. Here: Does your firm have some kind of top-top management level?" "Sure, but I -- " "I'm talking about some elite level that only, I don't know, a dozen or so people get to?" "Sure, but I don't -- " "Then that's where you should be. I was in that same situation myself the other day, and that's exactly how I handled it -- I told them I wanted to be jumped up to cabinet status. I mean, why should I be stuck as a Level 3 when all the really big shots are Level 1s?" "And your bosses went along with that? The big raise and the cabinet status?" "Actually, they laughed me out of the room. But it's the principle that -- " Click. Posted 7/25/02. You
can laugh, too -- get fresh commentary from syndicated columnist Rick
Horowitz twice every week!
|
  |
Rick Horowitz
