Had a session with Susan today. I was telling her how I felt I was criticized unjustly by Perry last week, and that it really wound me up for a couple of days. I felt I should defend myself but didn’t know what to do. Her strong advice was to resist the temptation to ring up the investor in question to explain. She said it’s rarely helpful to react defensively, as you look as though you have something to be defensive about, and also you are sending a signal to the person you’re having this mini battle of wills with that their opinion of you can disable you. Why should it? She says it’s counter-productive to go through life bullet-proofing yourself. Everyone knows where the truth lies, no matter who says what. So, in situations like this, I should say less, not more.
I told her I was also worried that comments like that might affect my chance of promotion, or at least of keeping my job. Her advice was that people don’t judge you by one incident or comment, but that your behavior is averaged over time in people’s minds. Not sure journalists subscribe to that idea.
Also, she advised me that, if I want to put myself in a position of getting a promotion here or a more senior position elsewhere, I should stop being such a conscientious rule follower. Rather, I’m to think of myself as a rule maker. Apparently, that is what will make me creative and valuable. The down side is that I have to have the courage to accept the consequences of my actions, which may include justified or unjustified criticism by others. Hmm.