For the ill-informed grand job titles like Global President, Regional Vice-President, European Chairman, UK Director, Country Manager, Head and Senior Partner make prospects for increased status seems limitless. We must be near job-title hyperinflation by now. It’s fuelled by the need for non-cash benefits and the desire for credibility without authority. Our HR departments need a non-proliferation treaty to allow them to catch up with what all these titles actually mean.
There comes a point when customers and potential recruits know that they are being misled. I say we are already well past that point. “Analyst” one month, “Manager” the next, “Director” the next – with the prospect of being “Vice-Presidents” before Christmas! Perhaps one of hundreds of Vice-Presidents – none of whom have any signing authority. Title inflation is no answer to the skills shortage! Ever more senior titles do not impress. They risk ridicule. Remember the story about the Emperor’s new clothes? Don’t be taken in by your own PR. Nobody else is. Following the crowd isn’t a USP.
Whilst the market is not giving you the benefit of the kudos or credibility once hoped for, unfortunately the courts’ outlook hasn’t caught up. It’s a double whammy! Some titles carry major personal responsibility. Try telling a UK judge you were not a “real director” for example, when it says “Sales Director” on your business card. It won’t impress. We should all know that UK directors have statutory obligations and those that accept the title risk the liability. But “we don’t have board meetings” you cry. “We are just a subsidiary”. Complicity in poor corporate governance won’t help your case!
Not that titles are conclusive of anything. Some bosses hide behind the title of plain “manager”. The reality is that if you fulfil the role of a director the law calls you a “shadow director” and may treat you as one. Also beware being the “Country Manager”. It can carry more personal risk than being a director. In some jurisdictions the authorities see the Country Manager as the personification of the company. If the company is being investigated (for alleged underpayment of tax or otherwise) then the Country Manager may have his passport removed… (you need in-country advice on such matters).
Sadly we professionals don’t have a good record on titles either. To most people “Associate” means a self employed contractor, as does “Consultant”- but in professional firms both are likely to be employees. As for “Partner” it might mean a partner, it might mean an employee, it might mean a member or even a sole trader. How can a partnership have a director let alone numerous managing directors? Almost as bad as the PLC banks that have “partners”!
Time to rationalise. If we can’t put any reliance on job titles the future is full of powers of attorney. Nice work for lawyers. You have been warned.
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