Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the professional world is full of middle aged men of very average abilities who still seem to have gone far

227 replies

Xenapo · 11/11/2022 13:10

So this is a sweeping generalisation I know and it may just be the industry I work in (comms/ advertising) but I've seen so many examples over the years of (white) middle aged men who are in positions of influence and leadership but just not very impressive or inspiring. Just very average abilities and not really sure how they got their positions - clearly not through ability but confidence, knowing right people, knowing how to climb the career ladder.

Yes, they talk a good talk, good at bullshitting and often quite ego driven but when it comes down to proper technical skills beyond waffle or being able to lead a team, they're pretty crap.

A prime example was a leader we brought in a couple of years ago. On paper looked incredible and he sold himself as an amazing professional who had led teams, won business etc etc. When it came down to the crunch, he won no business, made no impactful changes and ran his team of direct reports like an old boys club, letting them get away with anything and defending their every move. He also used to waffle and talk a lot - sounding important but not really saying anything of value or just asking questions for the sake of it. Caused a lot of hassle in business and he was asked to leave eventually.

He's one of many I can think of. Maybe I've just had bad luck in professional settings.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 14/11/2022 09:59

mamabear715 · 11/11/2022 13:18
I'd assumed you were talking about politicians..

Plenty of female MPs are equally mediocre.

ColeensBoot · 14/11/2022 10:02

Another thing Ive noticed over the years, would like to know what people think -

A man that is relatively senior in his job (who would never have got it nowadays) flounces about irritating people with his power.

At home his wife is the boss, she does all the child rearing, life admin, whey they go on holiday etc etc. Probably due to his own learned incompetence, so she just has to.

So anyway, at work he sees himself as THE BOSS. This is his domain. What he says, goes.

And so he doesn't actually listen to his team, as he is drunk on his power.

Not a nice manager to work for. Unsurprisingly I left. As not being male I was never going to get anywhere.

Anyone else come across this?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread