The richest man in the newly formed world, Elon Musk, has a new position befitting his wealth. Although his empire spans multiple sectors, he is getting rid of the nickname CEO in just one of the companies under his command, opting for the title “Technoking” at electric car maker Tesla.
For Musk, the functions of a Technoking do not seem different from those of a traditional CEO, since the industrial billionaire will see that the previous mandate of his position will remain intact, according to the Wall Street Journal. Tesla’s former CFO, Zach Kirkhorn, will also make an equally superfluous leap, changing his official designation to Tesla’s Coin Master. (Your real work is not expected to change).
Musk and Kirkhorn gave each other silly titles because they are powerful men who rule, but in addition to some clickable headlines and laughter from Musk’s army of acolytes, the titles themselves mean nothing. And incredible as it may seem, this is true for most positions.
“Technoking” conveys a little lesson to the rest of us, regardless of our vocations: job titles rarely, if ever, explain their real work. Since you won’t be brandishing a business card with any irreverent title to start a conversation soon, when you’re talking to someone about your job or even doing a job interview, you better emphasize what you Does.
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Titles don’t mean the same thing in different organizations
Being a senior vice president of sales at a faceless company does not mean that your responsibilities will be exactly the same as those of a senior vice president at another company.
What you do for a living is a very unavoidable topic of conversation. If it’s something you really want to talk about, you’ll have to dig into the details, not just offer a three-word answer like “I’m a lawyer”. Everyone has a vague notion of what it means to be a lawyer, but the real minutiae of a career is always different from person to person, even if technically they have the same job on paper.
Be more imaginative in your explanations
Of course, you don’t have to pass yourself off as a pseudo A LinkedIn influencer who spreads corporate jargon, but feel free to explain what you do with a little more color and elegance. Because Bbehind many tasteless posts lie at least some kind of purpose. Obviously, we work to pay the bills and keep our heads above water, but sometimes there may be something worth sharing in a conversation that explains the broader purpose of your work.
As Gene Marks wrote in Businessperson in 2018, positions are basically meaningless and generally used to strengthen the ego:
What do you say when people ask what you do for a living? Are you a “small business owner?” An entrepreneur? “A” CEO? “Don’t believe that. You are none of those things. These are just titles, made to make people feel more important. This is not what you really do.
Instead, consider elaborating on what you do in more granular terms. You don’t have to write a speech, but if you are an immigration lawyer, consider saying “I help undocumented people to consult legal resources so they can meet with their families” or, if you are a computer programmer, you can say ” I help build software that is the foundation for popular apps and websites. ”Your title is implicit in the synopsis you offer. Whether you are a Senior Web Designer or not, it doesn’t make much difference to the person you are talking to.
I make one most interesting conversation
Failing to expand what you do will take the conversation to a dead end; or worst, you run the risk of self-classifying, at best, and, at worst, sounding pretentious. You are unlikely to hold the title of “Technoking” or Supreme Emperor of Accounts Payable any time soon but luckily you have more to speak beyond its title, anyway.