This is Story #4 in the Mentoring Moments series -- a collection of "you won't believe this" stories (each told in under two minutes) from successful women of multiple generations. Stories for you to collect and share.
"She's an angel connector." That’s how someone described Susan McPherson, and it's a perfect title for Susan because she knows everyone and she loves connecting them. Susan’s LinkedIn profile says she’s the Founder & CEO at McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social good. But I prefer her Twitter profile to describe who she is and what she does: Passionate connector who believes business can be a force for good. Angel Investor. Philanthropist. Thinker. Doer. Writer. Refugee Supporter. #CSRChatHost. This is Susan's Mentoring Moment, in her words:
Susan McPherson. Photo Credit Kasia Reterska
People often ask me why I’m so positive and constantly boosting others. Honestly, it’s in my nature, but it really kicked into high gear following a horrific incident I suffered with a former boss.
Way back when in 1994, I was working in Seattle for PR Newswire. I was covering two positions at the company: 1) running the northwest bureau and 2) leading the marketing/PR newswire’s service to the technology sector. I had two bosses and that seemed like an OK idea, until it wasn’t. One of my bosses was a woman I’ll call Laurie.
For the annual sales conference, I was asked to give a briefing to the entire company – over 500 people. I was 28 years old and was extremely excited and anxious, but very well rehearsed. I was ready. But the evening before the big speech, I had a meeting with Laurie that rattled my sense of the working world and my sense of self, to my very core.
Laurie opened the conversation by saying, “Susan, we need to have an important discussion. I must tell you that I cannot give you names or examples, but I must make you aware of it.”
My knees started to tremble and within seconds I had that awful sinking feeling like I was floating down a waterfall without a boat or paddle or life vest. No one was there to catch me.
I immediately asked for details. Who? How? Why? When? How could she really be saying this? I had lots of good friends and colleagues at the company and I couldn’t believe that they were running to Laurie, telling her that they didn’t like me. Laurie refused to provide details, but said that I need to “just be aware.” It was cruel.
Why did she do this? It took a while, but I figured it out. Laurie wanted someone on her team who was 100% hers. She didn’t want to share me with my other boss. She thought if she could drive me away, she could make a case for hiring someone who could be 100% hers. Yes, there were better ways to get to that result, but Laurie didn’t pick those options.
For months, I soul searched and realized I had two choices: 1) Quit or 2) Use this horrific experience to be the best human being I can be, to never come close to being a Laurie. Since then I ALWAYS pay it forward – by doing random acts of kindness and thanking people at a minimum of three times for anything they do to support me. I started volunteering more. I started showcasing colleagues in presentations. And my management style completely changed -- going forward it was all about helping the teams that reported to me excel, advance and prosper. My give back days went into high gear after that startling and painful discussion… and I’ve benefitted ever since.
Mentoring Moments Series:
#1: What I Did When My Boss Threw A Stapler At My Head is here.
#2: How To Break The Rules, Spread A Little Mischief And Make A Mint is here.
#3: Do You Need A Shrink Or A Mentor? And What's The Difference is here.
#5: Why Women Need To Stop Worrying About Being Liked is here.
#6: What's Better Than A 50% Pay Increase? One Woman's Expensive Lesson is here.
#7: The No. 1 Way To Tackle What's Really Holding You Back is here.
#8: Millennial, Mother Of 50: She's Breaking The Rules And Saving Lives is here.
#9: Nice Women Finish First When They Ask The Right Questions is here.
#10: Millennials Beware: 'You Can't Let One Bad Guy Push You Out' is here.
#11: Women Sleep Better When You Listen To The Silence In Your Head is here.
#12: Five Words That Turned This Self-Made Woman Into A Multi-Millionaire is here.
#13: Two Things Great Leaders Do Every Day is here.
#14: How An Entrepreneur Made A Choice She'll Never Forget is here.
#15: How This Entrepreneur Turned Her Ignorance Into A Huge Success is here.
#16: Two Words That Made This Millennial's Network Explode is here.
#17: When This Woman Changed Her Name, Her Career Took Off is here.
#18: How A Taxi Ride Drove This Self-Made Woman's Career is here.
#19: 6 You-Need-To-Know Lessons That Will Make Your Career Explode is here.
#20: 3 Gritty Tips That Will Make You Way More Exciting And Successful is here.
#21: 5 Words That Made This Millennial A CEO is here.
#22: Can Success Be Dangerous? This Woman Found The Answer On A Starbucks Cup is here.
#23: 7 Simple Words That Will Make Your Career Soar is here.
#24: Why Women Need To Stop Being Afraid To Ask For Help is here.
#25: 7 Powerful Lessons That Will Ignite Your Inner Fire And Your Career is here.
#26: How a Homeless Woman Released From Prison Became 'My Greatest Mentor' is here.
#27: To Find A Mentor Stop Asking 'Can I Pick Your Brain?' Do This Instead is here.
#28: Her Boss Verbally Slapped Her - Now She Runs Her Own Show is here.
#29: Top Poker Player Wins $11.6 Million And Goes To Work Thinking She's A Loser is here.
#30: How A Sex Ed Class Prepared This Woman For The Biggest Pitch Of Her Career is here.
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