Since men have long been accustomed to dominating the US workforce, many of them develop feelings of emasculation when they are required to report to a woman. Adopting a tough-sounding nickname – like “Ace” or “Spike” – can help reduce these feelings and at least partially restore self esteem, according to a leading business behaviorist.
“The feelings of anger, worthlessness and inferiority are all understandable,” says Reed Stanley, president of the US Business Association for Men Only. “But men reporting to women is something that’s going to keep happening and they have got to learn to mitigate the impact.”
Calling the boss “Sweetheart” or asking her to fetch you some coffee are no longer appropriate, says Reed. “All this will get you is a trip to Human Resources,” he says.
Of all options, the nickname is the safest and easiest to implement, says Reed.
“You can pick a nickname and ask someone to start calling you by it,” he says – but notes that this could take days, even weeks, to catch on.” He recommends simply putting out an email: “Effective immediately, so and so is to be referred to in all oral and written communication as ‘Butch!'”
Reed cautions against too tough-sounding a name – like “Bruiser” or “Killer.”
“Those will earn you a trip to HR, too!” he says.
