<
https://theconversation.com/the-idea-of-the-company-man-was-forged-decades-ago-its-problems-still-haunt-leaders-today-288731>
I AM WORK.
"This handwritten phrase was found among the papers of industrialist Essington
Lewis after his death in 1961. It captured the mindset shared by many
Australian executives of his era.
Lewis was one of mining giant BHP’s mid-century “company men”: a salaried
manager who learned the business from the ground up, and gradually progressed
through the ranks.
Men like Lewis built their identity around work. In return, their loyalty and
skills were rewarded with status, promotion and the proverbial gold watch.
Corporate leadership has changed dramatically over recent decades. Women now
lead major companies. Lifetime employment at a single company has become rarer.
However, my new research suggests the image of the “company man” has proven
resilient even as the workforce has become more gender-balanced.
Many of the qualities still associated with leadership – ambition, toughness,
emotional restraint and devotion to work – were forged in mid-century
companies.
This history helps shine a light on why, despite decades of progress, the ideal
of the “company man” often still decides who gets ahead."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
