To think this was just a polite comment?

[Proseccoslushy]

Client suggested to my boss today that I was in line for a promotion (as a semi joke, I’m still fairly junior)... boss had mentioned that they had a lack of women at my level at the top. Boss responded with a laugh “she’s on the production line”.

Aibu to think this was just a polite joke and not to get stressed about it? I have a tendency to overthink and keep thinking how it could be interpreted negatively.

It sounds like a harmless joke - what were you worrying they meant by it?

Well if you are adamant about stressing over that then that's probably where you will stay.

Climb the ladder quickly and show that idiot your worth! Good luck

I would take that to mean your being trained for promotion.
On the production line to mgr no?

'On the production line' to me means a possible candidate for the future.

Unless this was said against a backdrop of you being bullied and belittled at work, I think you should try and forget about it. I'm not even sure what the comment means and there could be multiple interpretations.

It was a compliment! Your boss meant that you are on the way up for leadership roles one day but aren't quite there yet, surely?

Christ. You're literally undermining yourself.

Yes you're over thinking.

You're in the manager production line - that's what he meant SURELY.

This sort of attitude will not help you.

It's a joke... unless you're pregnant?

It’s a compliment surely.

Er, does nobody understand that “the production line” is the bit of a factory where the low-grade staff do the most boring and repetitive work?

I imagine this is why OP is asking?

That said, I suspect that the manager didn’t actually mean that, and mistakenly used the wrong expression. He probably WAS suggesting that OP was on the right track for promotion in due course.

I would take it to mean a conveyor belt, a track that keeps moving forward and will propel you towards promotions. I think you’re taking it as ‘you’re just on factory floor’, but I don’t think that’s how it was meant. It was clumsily worded. It’s meaningless anyway as what someone says to a client will just be what they think the client wants to hear. Definitely don’t overthink it!

I also read it that you are on the way towards the top level. And I tend to overthink terribly.

Er, does nobody understand that “the production line” is the bit of a factory where the low-grade staff do the most boring and repetitive work?

Yes I understand that, but it sounds like the boss is saying OP is a product on the production line,
on her way to be developed into a manager, not that she works on the production line.

I think its a compliment OP - boss is agreeing that you should be promoted at some point.

Nothing to worry about. You are in the line.