The Taco Method Revisited
Wednesday, 6. December 2006, 03:09:55
A couple of months ago, I complained about a co-worker, TACO in a blog entry.
So, here I am again, whining about Taco.
At a board meeting on Monday, Taco was in charge. There were 5 new guys in the room, along with eight veteran agents and me. All men, except for me, and Taco turned into the ultimate Alpha Male. He was asserting his dominance and I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if they all started pissing up a wall to see who was the best. There was so much testosterone in the room, I nearly grew a beard, myself.
I have to tell you, I am one of three women insurance agents and the other two girls only show up at the office occasionally. Basically that means I am a lonely petunia in an onion patch. Or more to the point, I am the only woman in an all male world.
In the world of SALES, the alpha males really shine because they are large and in-charge and love every minute of it. For me, being the only woman in the group, I am continually underestimated because, hello you guys, I am not a coffee-making secretary.
Taco: This week, we are going to make it a banner week. You new guys will have my help and the help of my two assistants. One of them is Jeff.
New Guy 1: Who is the other assistant?
Me: I am
Taco: What? (To New Guy 1, while ignoring me)
New Guy 1: Who is the other assistant? You said you have two but you only named one.
Me: I am the other assistant.
Taco: Oh, it's her.
Me: Her's name is Kay.
New Guy 1: Caramba, es muy bonita! (Yes, we FINALLY have an Hispanic Sales guy.)
Me: Gracias.
Taco: Enough of that! I am in charge. This is my meeting.
Me: Yes, we know that.
Taco: Did you hear me. I am in charge.
Me: So what does that mean?
Taco: That means you let me run the meeting.
Me: I am not stopping you.
Taco: Yes, you are.
Me: How?
Taco: You are talking.
Me: It's what I do.
Taco: You and all these little people in this room need to be quiet so you can listen to ME talk. I am in charge and you will listen.
Okay. Have you ever had one of those moments when you feel like your head is swelling up? Well, if you haven't, I am here to tell you that it doesn't feel very good.
Rather than two of us acting ugly during the meeting, I decided to leave the room.
Taco: Where are you going?
Me: I am going back upstairs to hang with the girls. (Meaning the Branch Manager and her assistant)
Taco: Good. You do that.
Me: And you can go play in traffic.
...I thought to myself.
Back upstairs with the girls:
Me: Taco is being condescending, again.
Branch Manager: What is he saying?
Me: He is telling everyone they are little people and he is in charge.
BM: How are the guys taking it.
Me: They all seem to understand this behavior.
BM: I don't understand it. I never have.
Me: I think the meeting will be over soon. Taco isn't saying anything important, anyway.
BM: Probably, it will go on until they all get finished marking their territory.
Secretary: I am still not making coffee.
BM: Me, either.
ME: Not me.
BM: We can all sit here and watch Taco make the coffee. It really is pretty funny.
S: He ordered me to make it one time. I cussed him out in Portguese. I am from Brazil, you know.
BM: Then, I cussed him out in English when he asked me to.
ME: Interesting.
Taco: The meeting is over. Kay, make us some coffee.
Me: Go to hell.
So, here I am again, whining about Taco.
At a board meeting on Monday, Taco was in charge. There were 5 new guys in the room, along with eight veteran agents and me. All men, except for me, and Taco turned into the ultimate Alpha Male. He was asserting his dominance and I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if they all started pissing up a wall to see who was the best. There was so much testosterone in the room, I nearly grew a beard, myself.
I have to tell you, I am one of three women insurance agents and the other two girls only show up at the office occasionally. Basically that means I am a lonely petunia in an onion patch. Or more to the point, I am the only woman in an all male world.
In the world of SALES, the alpha males really shine because they are large and in-charge and love every minute of it. For me, being the only woman in the group, I am continually underestimated because, hello you guys, I am not a coffee-making secretary.
Taco: This week, we are going to make it a banner week. You new guys will have my help and the help of my two assistants. One of them is Jeff.
New Guy 1: Who is the other assistant?
Me: I am
Taco: What? (To New Guy 1, while ignoring me)
New Guy 1: Who is the other assistant? You said you have two but you only named one.
Me: I am the other assistant.
Taco: Oh, it's her.
Me: Her's name is Kay.
New Guy 1: Caramba, es muy bonita! (Yes, we FINALLY have an Hispanic Sales guy.)
Me: Gracias.
Taco: Enough of that! I am in charge. This is my meeting.
Me: Yes, we know that.
Taco: Did you hear me. I am in charge.
Me: So what does that mean?
Taco: That means you let me run the meeting.
Me: I am not stopping you.
Taco: Yes, you are.
Me: How?
Taco: You are talking.
Me: It's what I do.
Taco: You and all these little people in this room need to be quiet so you can listen to ME talk. I am in charge and you will listen.
Okay. Have you ever had one of those moments when you feel like your head is swelling up? Well, if you haven't, I am here to tell you that it doesn't feel very good.
Rather than two of us acting ugly during the meeting, I decided to leave the room.
Taco: Where are you going?
Me: I am going back upstairs to hang with the girls. (Meaning the Branch Manager and her assistant)
Taco: Good. You do that.
Me: And you can go play in traffic.
...I thought to myself.
Back upstairs with the girls:
Me: Taco is being condescending, again.
Branch Manager: What is he saying?
Me: He is telling everyone they are little people and he is in charge.
BM: How are the guys taking it.
Me: They all seem to understand this behavior.
BM: I don't understand it. I never have.
Me: I think the meeting will be over soon. Taco isn't saying anything important, anyway.
BM: Probably, it will go on until they all get finished marking their territory.
Secretary: I am still not making coffee.
BM: Me, either.
ME: Not me.
BM: We can all sit here and watch Taco make the coffee. It really is pretty funny.
S: He ordered me to make it one time. I cussed him out in Portguese. I am from Brazil, you know.
BM: Then, I cussed him out in English when he asked me to.
ME: Interesting.
Taco: The meeting is over. Kay, make us some coffee.
Me: Go to hell.
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Bang! Pow! Right to the moon!
There are no laws against being an A-Hole, and I'm no attorney, but it sounds like this guy is teetering on The Line.
You may not be particularly litigious, but maybe someone else in the company is and this guy's flagrant disregard for some sensitive gender issues may be exposing the whole company... I'd get with an HR person quick to see what can be done about his unprofessional and possibly sexist behavior. One person like that can bring down an entire company. I've seen it. All it takes is one lawsuit (frivolous or otherwise) and, depending on the resources, a company may not be able to withstand the costs of representation, defense, etc. That's extreme, though.
What a Yerk. Sorry you have to work with that kind of person.
By goodnaturedribbing, # 6. December 2006, 03:27:23
By KayFour, # 6. December 2006, 03:36:35
Te-hee over Huge ego, small.... I never heard that one!
By momable, # 6. December 2006, 04:21:37
Best regards, a boy working like mad, Timm.
By AzureTimm, # 6. December 2006, 04:29:45
but I think you and the other Ladies are able to make not easy his life.
Huge ego, small .... that is a good one, I never heard before.
By ALLY_G, # 7. December 2006, 07:01:04
Taco's ego has to be large to make up for the many small things in his life, especially his brain.
By devans186, # 7. December 2006, 18:47:35
By momable, # 8. December 2006, 06:48:57
But today in class one group was to present a drama. It took ten minutes for two "bossy" girls arguing before they started. Their group cooperation grade was indeed low. So women have a problem with ego too, but I must admit, I don't think its as bad as the guys.
By paminhenan, # 8. December 2006, 10:22:28
Hmmm.
However, all said and done, you seem to be handling him just fine and not giving an inch to him!
Way to go Kayy!
By hungryghost, # 10. December 2006, 04:30:21