August 24, 2008

The Woman Who Knows Everything

No, it isn’t I. (I know! I was surprised too!)

In every organization, there is one person who is plugged into the pulse and knows who does what, what’s going on and when it’s happening, where everything is, how everything works, etc. In my personal experience, that person has always been a woman. (And, for what it's worth, it has never been me.)

Find this woman in your organization and make her your friend. She is an invaluable ally, perhaps the most important one, in helping you do your job well.

10 comments:

Rox said...

I try to make myself that girl. Then I end up feeling resentful that no one else knows how to do anything and I end up walking away. It's not my best quality, for sure. *sigh*

THIS IS ME....ONLINE said...

Good advice. Thanks. I start a new job tomorrow. :)

Patricia said...

What a wonderfully supportive thing to suggest.

And, uhmmm, is it terribly conceited of me to think that I'm this person in my organization? I'm lucky that my boss tells me (and others) that I am.

A lovely thought, Birdie. :)

Greg said...

You're talking about my friend, Kyle.

She's the kind of person who can and has mobilized entire communities toward common goals.

She sure knows how to connect people with things and other people in the way that brings the greatest benefit to all...and she's fun, too!

Joe Jubinville said...

I am that woman.

And I secretly LOVE it when somebody calls me Mr. Know-it-all. ,oD

Sooo-this-is-me said...

At my work it was a woman named Barb, they never gave her any credit until another company snatched her up, boy there was a lot of sh** hitting the fan then, however it was too late and she said nothing would convince her to stay in a place that only wanted her once another company recognized her talents.

dpaste said...

You just haven't been in enough groups with gay men.

Java said...

Hee hee I like what David said. And Joe has the story to back it up.

I am not that woman. I know many things about many things, but I am not a great organizing motivator. I suspect I don't gossip enough, either.

Vic Mansfield said...

As has been said above, and has been my experience: YES it is usually a woman, and sometimes a gay man who is the go-to person.

Straight guys? nope.

Patrick said...

I learned this rule early on at the college where my dad worked, and keeping it in mind has served me well.