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Subject:RE: Quote of the Day From:Gause_Brian -at- emc -dot- com To:<mary_arrotti -at- yahoo -dot- com>, <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:28:16 -0400
This isn't a matter of words, but of attitude. If you're going to your
SVP, you should mention that your developers are speaking in an
insulting and demeaning tone towards writers (not that they've said
something specific like 'scribes'). Seems to me you're dealing with a
lack of respect, not just name-calling. You must focus on this attitude,
not the word. (Besides, if you focus on the word, your SVP won't
understand the weight of your argument...after all, he used it too,
right?)
Of course, it also seems to me that this lack of respect comes straight
from your SVP.
If you're going to speak out, simply demand that you be treated with the
same respect and professionalism you give to your engineering or QA or
ANY professional in your organization. One example of this would be to
refer to Technical Writers at your company as "Technical Writers", not
"scribes" or "jotters" or "secretaries" or "note-takers" or whatever...
The words are only a sign of something larger. I would avoid a defense
of your job (i.e. extolling your virtues) and simply demand respect and
honor for your professional position in a company of equals. If the
company really values you (and they do because they pay you big bucks,
right), then professional treatment is the baseline for every
employee...not just the engineers.
Good luck!
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gause_brian=emc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gause_brian=emc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Mary Arrotti
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 11:55 AM
To: Jim Barrow; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Quote of the Day
Would your manager be willing to talk directly to the SVP & ask that the
SVP use a less demeaning term to refer to the writers?
Another suggestion - ask your manager to publicize the work your team
does. On a regular basis (weekly, monthly) send to MGT a list of your
group's contributions and their impact to other groups, the company, and
the bottom line.
Jim Barrow <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net> wrote:
After a recent all-hands meeting, in which a senior VP referred to us
as scribes, these developers started walking around snapping, "Hey, tech
writer, go scribe; jot that down".
My manager is disgusted and wants to call a meeting. He wants to spend
an hour extolling the virtues of the tech writers. Uh...no, I can't
subscribe to this approach.
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