To want people to call me by my correct job title?

[OhamIreally]

After many years climbing the career ladder I finally made it to Director a couple of years ago. It means a lot to me, I have worked hard and seen myself overlooked for promotion in favour of less experienced men and I have been gracious and continued to work hard to get where I am.

Almost without exception, however, when I am in a meeting with a more junior male and they are in a position to introduce me, they refer to me as Manager, or Head of.

I am then in the invidious position of having to correct them and possibly appear petty. It really annoys me.

The other week I was in a meeting with our new Head of Sales and heard him introduced as Director by one of the people who consistently "demotes" me.

Interestingly none of my male peers do it, and nor have I heard a woman do it, just males who are less senior.

That's really annoying. I can't really think of a good way to address this without seeming petty.

Could you imagine them naked when they do it? Might cheer you up

Very annoying!
Maybe just get in there first and introduce yourself..?

Hand them a business card with your title and contact details

I’d just say-‘Director, actually!’

I’d completely ignore what they’d said and just proffer ‘hi, Ohmireally, director- nice to meet you’

I wouldn’t directly correct them but I would pointedly say something like ‘so as Joe said, my name is Sarah. I’m the director of sales...’

This would boil my piss, just keep correcting them. Wankers.

With respect- you operate at Director level presumably in high pressure environment where you will manage conflict as an integral part of your profession and yet you need to curry the advice from a chat forum.

Yes to being assertive and introducing yourself with a firm outstretched handshake.

"Hi, Im director of sales. Gary always gets that bit wrong."

Introduce yourself. And correct them. Men would correct and nothing would be thought of it. For example,

Annoying colleague: This is our sales manager OhamI.

You: That's Director of Sales actually. Still not got the hang of the company structure AC? (Said with friendly smile)

Just keep correcting him.

I don’t think it’s petty at all.

When you’re introduced as head of, or manager, just say ‘hi, pleased to meet you, I’m the director’ as if you haven’t registered your mis-title.

The person who introduced you will look a bit daft for getting it wrong, the new person will know your title, and I’m sure in the future whoever has gotten it wrong will get it right as they look bad for not getting your job title correct.

Plus being very casual and just introducing yourself properly without directly addressing the mistake looks very assertive and like you’re not threatened in any way, almost like directly correcting it is beneath you/not worth your attention, you’re focused entirely on the new person you’re being introduced to. It’s a power move. Far more than saying ‘oh actually I’m not manager, I’m director’ to the introducee.

Argh, that would drive me nuts! I would be tempted to have a word and just remind them of your correct job title. If you wanted to be subtle about it you could just keep dropping it in conversations, A LOT. Say stuff like "as Director of X I feel that..." and see if it works.

I'm not a director by any stretch but it used to really get me down when I was finally made a Manager in my old job, and even my line manager couldn't bring himself to use my correct job title. I think it's because he thought I wasn't worthy of it even though he was the one who promoted me. (I can't believe I still stayed there for three years after the promotion. Should have left sooner! )

Actually, this is much better from PP

Hi, Im director of sales. Gary always gets that bit wrong

Definitely go with that!

What @PrimeraVez says -

I wouldn’t directly correct them but I would pointedly say something like ‘so as Joe said, my name is Sarah. I’m the director of sales...’

If you say something pointed you just sound petty.

"Hi, Im director of sales. Gary always gets that bit wrong.”

Bit too pointed but I like.

I'd joke about it. 'When was I demoted??' unless he's a proper twat and then the pointier the better.

If you're the more senior person in the meeting then why wait for the junior male to introduce you. Just jump in there with a nice confident "Hello I'm OHamIReally, Director of X" and shake hands or hand over your business card, whatever your approach.

I think you must work where I do! #boysclub

I'm a Director but call myself a manager. I never mention I'm the owner even if at all possible.
Of course people work hard to get there but for me, the quality of my work, success of my business makes it worthwhile to me my job title is just that a title.
The proof is in the pudding for me not the title, one of the most impressive people I have met don't use their full title, it's on the paper work yes but when dealing with them they are well them, a person who us very good at their job.
Some of the worst people I have worked with have dropped their rank or title but have been crap at their jobs.

Be proud of what you have achieved op but you as you have achieved your position it's your skills that matter and how you achieve thing that matter not your title.

Oh this gives me the rage too! Agree with others, introduce yourself first if you can, if not just completely ignore the introduction and when you shake hands say "Sarah, Director of whatever".

I read some research recently about women being "Heads of" and men being Directors but actually doing the same/similar role, it's frustrating.

(I'm a "Head of Blah" and often get introduced (only by junior men!) as a "Blah Manager" and I take the above approach).

One of the male, lovely MDs used to do this to be. This is xxx head of xxxx. I was actually group director of xxxx and outranked him.

I knew him very well and always used to tell him off in private. I swear he did it just to wind me up. Actually I know he did.

I just used to introduce him as hi this is xxx head of xxxx division.

Two can play that game.

Maybe they are less aware of the distinctions because they are junior?

I’d jump in first and say “hi I’m Sarah, director of XYZ. This is my assistant, Gary. Ok let’s get started....”

What would happen if you pulled this person to one side and ask him if he has a problem with you being a director and pointedly remind him if so he’s on dodgy grounds?