“Pet to threat” phenomenon is a term coined by Dr. Kecia Thomas that essentially says women of color, particularly Black women are lauded when they first get the job but soon are seen as a threat due to their aptitude at excelling at their job and for speaking up for what’s right. In other words, we make work look easy and we’re too “outspoken”. When the work is copied and the results aren’t the same now we’re the problem.
It’s such a surreal moment being seen as harmless or helpful to being perceived as dangerous or disposable in the blink of an eye.
Unlike the Chicago Bears’ coach Ben Johnson’s motto of “Good. Better. Best.” My experience at my last job was bad, worse, worst. And I don’t want to relive the numerous horrific experiences I encountered with the Karens of the Midway. It did, however, help me realize that I need to be far more intentional about where I invest my time. If I want my work to have a meaningful impact, I can’t afford to waste the one resource I can’t get back.
So let me run it back real quick for the one and only time.
I was told to stay in my place multiple times especially when I had ideas on how to increase student enrollment. The last CD told me that the buck stopped with her. Well it did. The school closed those doors 4 months after I left. So the buck literally stopped with her. Ain’t no more bucks to stop now.
Neither CD ever did outbound sales when the previous CD claimed that was her speciality. I gave her a ton of things I’ve done on previous jobs that increase student enrollment and awareness about the school. But did she do anything? Even on her own? Nope. She just waited until the sales team based in Canada sent her leads. Like lady, that’s not how revenue works. You gotta go out, build the pipeline and manage it along the way. Depending on others will only set you up for failure. Oops…
I won’t even begin to discuss the blatant disrespect I dealt with by the Karens of the Midway who did not like the fact that it was me who was leading the team. Everybody thought they knew more than me. Yet, I was in the position I was in. The job was handed to me because of my forward-thinking, solution-oriented, student-centric reputation in Houston.
I was only lauded until it became clear that I was able to hear a great deal of information, analyze it and come up with a solution immediately. I’m decisive when it comes to getting things done. As a person who leads a team, you can’t sit around throwing theories out. You have to absorb a lot and put into practice what is feasible for your students at that time and build upon that. But sitting around meeting after meeting talking about new theories someone just read is not a good use of time. Yet, it was allowed even though I objected often.
I had never been in such a toxic, hostile environment in all my working life and I’m from Texas. I’ve had bad jobs but nothing and I mean absolutely nothing compared to how I was treated here in the Midwest. Nothing.
I digress.
So what do I do now? I had to work thru my emotions concerning this situation. And when I sat silent and watched God at work I realized I am the favored one. With that being said, I don’t need to call out anyone personally. I’ll just let God continue to deal with people who came after his daughter.
No matter what setting I work in I will continue to do the work and won’t let anyone silence my voice, dim my light or make me feel less than due to the impact, results or outcome I can get. I excel when I’m in the zone especially keeping the organization moving in the right direction doing the right things that will create a meaningful impact for the students and lessen stress on the staff. That’s only if the staff take their hands off the rein and allow someone to help them do their job effectively without exerting an insane amount of effort or time.
So I walk into a new season of life. One that I’m clearly leaning on God to walk me thru. There are numerous lessons I learned from that horrific experience. But at the end of the day, God prevailed. Oh, did He prevail.
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