Guest Blog: Empowered Versus Non-Empowered Administrators:
This is a guest blog hosted by Joseph F. Clark and written anonymously and redacted to protect the identity of the blogger and their employer. The blog is about a series of interactions between an academic researcher and her administration. Serendipitously, she enquired about how to do an anonymous blog concerning these events when I was formulating my own blog about empowered versus non-empowered administrators. For my blog I had come up with some ideas and wrote preliminary notes that echoed the sentiments expressed by Jane (not her real name). I quickly accepted her offer to host the blog with a request to insert some of my own messages. So below is a story written by Jane and some narration by myself. Because the blog is picked up by a couple of outlets and I’m not sure if different fonts will transfer to other systems, my blurbs are in CAPS from here on.

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I met with administration regarding a small grant to be run. It was deemed to be not worth the time or effort and not given a go ahead. I pushed to get permission to do it and met with continued resistance. I received a verbal message from my boss who said he spoke with the administrator and agreed on the no go.

This all occurred about 3 or 4 years ago when the cash flow was better. I did not push this issue further.

FAST FORWARD TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE WHEN CASH IS TIGHT, LAYOFFS HAVE OCCURRED AND THE AFORE MENTIONED ADMINISTRATOR IS PUSHING TO INCREASE REVENUE AND CUT COSTS.

Over the subsequent years I kept in touch with my contact person from the previous project concept as she went from job to job up the corporate ranks. Now we are trying to work on another project but a larger one. As with many savvy organizations they are seeking multiple ways to get the job done. In other words we are in competition with the group who did the work we turned down. At this moment our program is being considered but because we turned them down I have little hope of getting the contract.

NOW COMES THE IRONIC PART.

The same administrator who sabotaged the program last time is sending me emails offering all sorts of assistance to get this contract. I want to respond that the help was needed during the last try. That this type of contract goes to organizations with a good track record and we have none (NO TRACK RECORD) with them, thanks to this administrators no go decision 3 plus years ago.

THAT SMALL PROGRAM LOOKS PRETTY GO NOW DOESN’T IT? THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN I STARTED MY BLOG. THIS ADMINISTRATOR ACTUALLY HAD NO POWER TO MAKE GO NO GO DECISIONS BUT APPARENTLY GOT TO THE BOSS AND “ADVISED” HIM TO NOT SUPPORT THE SMALL PROGRAM.

I CANNOT SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM WOULD HAVE BEEN A MONEY MAKER, OR NOT. MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MONEY LOSER OR JUST A BREAK EVEN, BUT I LOOK AT THESE SEED CONTRACTS AS ANALOGOUS TO GOING TO A FARMERS MARKET WHERE THEY GIVE OUT TASTES OF THEIR GOODS. IF IT IS GOOD YOU GET A SALE. OUR WORK IS A SERVICE AND SOME ENTITIES WANT TO SAMPLE THE GOODS WITH A SMALL SAMPLE BEFORE TAKING THE PLUNGE WITH A BIG INVESTMENT. RELATIONSHIPS TAKE YEARS TO NURTURE AND TURNING DOWN A PROJECT IS ONE WAY TO TARNISH SUCH RELATIONSHIPS.

I COMMEND JANE ON TRYING TO KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD FOR THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS AND HOPE SHE GETS THE CONTRACT. THE ADMINISTRATOR SHE IS TALKING ABOUT NEEDS AN EDUCATION, IN MY OPINION, ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION WAS PASSED TO JANE’S BOSS TO MAKE HIM SIDE WITH ADMIN VERSUS A PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE. THAT WE MAY NEVER KNOW. BUT, IT GOES TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE, WHERE SOME ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE NO REAL POWER SHOULD REALIZE THAT THEIR JOB IS TO ACT AS LUBRICATION NOT A DOOR.

JANE, I FEEL YOUR PAIN.