This article is spot-on. I have had this struggle in my career for YEARS. As I've gotten older, it has gotten more acute. Most of you have issues as an INTJ because you are no-nonsense, capable, ambitious, and independent thinkers. That's supposed to be a good thing in the corporate world, right? Most of you, especially guys, are considered managerial material because of this — a straight-shooter with qualities to be admired. Yes, you may struggle more in the corporate world because you're anINTJ instead of anENTJ, but you don't have it as bad as some.
These "admirable qualities" actually work against me. I am a minority female. I'm too independent for most supervisors (male or female), so we always end up in a petty power struggle because they feel the need to control me because I have my own (tried and true) ideas about how I do my work. For this reason, they are too busy trying to make me over in their image instead of focusing on my work and helping me be productive. So, in addition to hating the whole "kiss butts to get ahead" approach, I have to deal with the difference in corporate culture (which was established by whites) and my culture. Yes, believe it or not, sometimes common white corporate cultural practices do clash with other cultures (educate yourself).
So, I'm dealing with a double-whammy lie about corporate america: (1) work hard, and you'll get ahead (for young people) (2) be four times as good and you'll get ahead (for minorities). Well...news flash...it doesn't work! Schmoozing does work better. But when you are not the schmoozing type and gaining access to the people who COULD propel you seems almost IMPOSSIBLE because you lack certain "commonalities" that make bonding "easier" (because you are a minority woman), it feels like a NO-WIN situation.
Truly frustrating to say the least. No matter how hard I work, how much I know, how much I try to assimilate, how affable I am to seem more easy-going, how much I try to add (and prove my) value, it doesn't matter. There's the glass ceiling...and then there's the brown ceiling. The latter is harder to break than the former. I'm seriously coming to the conclusion that I need to work for myself.
NN (not verified)says...
This article is spot-on. I have had this struggle in my career for YEARS. As I've gotten older, it has gotten more acute. Most of you have issues as an INTJ because you are no-nonsense, capable, ambitious, and independent thinkers. That's supposed to be a good thing in the corporate world, right? Most of you, especially guys, are considered managerial material because of this — a straight-shooter with qualities to be admired. Yes, you may struggle more in the corporate world because you're anINTJ instead of anENTJ, but you don't have it as bad as some.
These "admirable qualities" actually work against me. I am a minority female. I'm too independent for most supervisors (male or female), so we always end up in a petty power struggle because they feel the need to control me because I have my own (tried and true) ideas about how I do my work. For this reason, they are too busy trying to make me over in their image instead of focusing on my work and helping me be productive. So, in addition to hating the whole "kiss butts to get ahead" approach, I have to deal with the difference in corporate culture (which was established by whites) and my culture. Yes, believe it or not, sometimes common white corporate cultural practices do clash with other cultures (educate yourself).
So, I'm dealing with a double-whammy lie about corporate america: (1) work hard, and you'll get ahead (for young people) (2) be four times as good and you'll get ahead (for minorities). Well...news flash...it doesn't work! Schmoozing does work better. But when you are not the schmoozing type and gaining access to the people who COULD propel you seems almost IMPOSSIBLE because you lack certain "commonalities" that make bonding "easier" (because you are a minority woman), it feels like a NO-WIN situation.
Truly frustrating to say the least. No matter how hard I work, how much I know, how much I try to assimilate, how affable I am to seem more easy-going, how much I try to add (and prove my) value, it doesn't matter. There's the glass ceiling...and then there's the brown ceiling. The latter is harder to break than the former. I'm seriously coming to the conclusion that I need to work for myself.