The more women and minorities make their way into the ranks of management, the more they seem to want to talk about things formerly judged to be best left unsaid. The newcomers also tend to see office matters with a fresh eye, in the process sometimes coming up with critical analyses of the forces that shape everyone's experience in the organization.
Consider the novel views of Harvey Coleman of Atlanta on the subject of getting ahead. Coleman is black. He spent 11 years with IBM, half of them working in management development, and now serves as a consultant to the likes of AT&T, Coca-Cola, Prudential, and Merch. Coleman says that based on what he's seen at big companies, he weighs the different elements that make for long-term career success as follows: performance counts a mere 10%;image, 30%;and exposure, a full 60%. Coleman concluded that excellent job performance is so common these days that while doing your work well may win you pay increases, it won't secure you the big promotion. He finds that advancement mote often depends on how many people know you and your work, and how high up they are.
Ridiculous beliefs? Not to many people, especially many women and members of minority races who, like Coleman, feel that the scales have dropped from their eyes. "Women and blacks in organizations work under false beliefs, "says Kaleel Jamison, a New York-based management consultant who helps corporations deal with these issues. "They think that if you work hard, you' 11 get ahead—that someone in authority will reach down and give you a promotion. "She adds, "Most women and blacks are so frightened that people will think they' ve gotten ahead because of their sex or color that they play down their visibility. " Her advice to those folks: learn the ways that white males have traditionally used to find their way into the spotlight.
16. According to the passage, "things formerly judged to be best left unsaid" probably refers to
A. criticisms that shape everyone's experience
B. the opinions which contradict the established beliefs
C. the tendencies that help the newcomers to see office matters with a fresh eye
D. the ideas which usually come up with new ways of management in the organization
17. To achieve success in your career, the most important factor, according to the passage, is to
A. let your superiors know how good you are
B. project a favorable image to the people around you
C. work as a consultant to your superiors
D. perform well your tasks given by your superiors
18. The reason why women and blacks play down their visibility is that they_________.
A. know that someone in authority will reach down and give them a promotion
B. want to give people the impression that they work under false beliefs
C. don't want people to think that their promotions were due to sex or color
D. believe they can get promoted by reason of their sex or color
19. The author is of the opinion that Coleman's beliefs are_________.
A. biased B. popular C. insightful D. superficial
20. The best title for this passage would be_________.
A. Role of Women and Minorities in Management
B. The Importance of Being Visible
C. Job Performance and Advancement
D. Sex and Career Success