By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady
BLR CEO Bob Brady’s “Commitment” column generated some surprisingly strong backlash. Here’s his response.
In last week’s column I wrote about “commitment” in the workplace and tried to make a joking comparison about male-female relationships. My offhand attempt at humor backfired and provoked a mini-controversy. In the column, I tried to distinguish between work commitment and commitment of the kind that men supposedly lack in their relationships with women. Several readers found it offensive and sexist.
The controversy was a surprise, and I apologize for any offense given. None was intended. In fact, there was a certain amount of irony involved. As the e-mails came in, I was in Alaska for my daughter’s wedding. She is a young professional intent on a career, and I am proud of her achievements and supportive of her dreams. In her circle, I don’t detect any differences between the sexes in terms of career goals and dedication. (Nor in terms of her and my new son-in-law’s commitment to each other, thank goodness!)
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One difference that I do see is generational. For the women of my daughter’s generation, there is a vast difference in opportunities when contrasted to those offered to and experienced by the women in my generation, nearly 40 years ago. One of the things that my generation can be proudest of is the progress in civil rights during our lifetimes. We haven’t reached anything close to perfection, but the differences in opportunities for women and minorities are night and day. (For an earlier column on this subject, see “What HR Managers Should Be Most Proud Of”
As the CEO of a small but influential employer, I’ve played a part in that transformation, and I’m proud of it. BLR has not been content with simply explaining the intricacies of equal employment regulation to our subscribers for the last 30 years. We’ve also practiced it. Both our editor in chief and chief marketing officer are women, as are many of our senior supervisors and managers.
So, why did I make the comment about women seeking commitment in men that readers found offensive? My intention was that it be construed as a wry, humorous commentary on the foibles of humanity. As is the case with much humor, it is tricky, and as written, it came across not as a general comment about humanity, but about women, specifically. Sorry.
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I asked several female BLR employees about the column. All, diplomatically (I am the boss) agreed that they understood the readers’ concerns, though they also understood my intention. One of our editors suggested wording that would have been better, “Not the kind of commitment men and women debate in their personal relationships.”
That does come closer. Commitment in the workplace is about being driven to meet your goals. Commitment in relationships is something different to everyone, and I won’t go any further.
Anyway, if you have additional comments to share, e-mail me at Rbrady@blr.com. I’d love to hear your opinions, even if you think I’m a sexist reactionary. I try to listen.
P.S. The wedding in Alaska was spectacular. If you haven’t visited the 49th state, you should!
Hyper-sensitivity and political correctness are a more effective impediments to open discussion than is censorship.
I found your comments perfectly understandable. I thought it was effectively humorus.
A person once owned a diamond mine and invited a close friend to share in the wealth. The friend would have to work hard and the diamonds were plentiful. When the friend entered the mine his first observation was concerning the dirt. “Gosh there sure is a lot of dirt in here”, he lamented. Moral of the story? People will find ‘dirt’ even in a diamond mine.
I am so tired of people not being able to “take a joke” or everything having to be so “PC”!!! There are way to many others things in life to get uptight about. My banner screen saver says: “Whatever you do, doing it relaxed helps you do it better”…..Relax people, life is more fun and so much easier if you do.