Wachtell and More: The Potential Blockbuster Power of Pillow Talk

 No one is naive anymore in this brutal era of capitalism. 

Since it's more difficult to get, hold and move on to better work, fear is escalating. One source of profound angst is who's in a romantic relationship with a powerful who and what could be going on in their pillow talk. The issue is not one of morality or fun gossip. It can have significant impact on employment security/mobility.

Actually, this is not new. Back in the late 1970s, light years before #MeToo, in a large energy corporation, the head of our department, it was rumored widely, was sleeping with a subordinate. Both were single.

Not only was there seething resentment about the subordinate's promotion and visibility. There was awareness that their pillow talk could affect one's own standing in the organization. Of course, a common fantasy was sending an anonymous letter to the straight-arrow CEO about the goings-on. However, the fear was too intense to be involved in anything like that.

As we follow the juicy saga of matters of the heart at Wachtell we might be wondering if the lawyers and staff there also have been impacted by pillow talk. Or at least feared that could be happening.

Love seems to be in the air there. Recent rainmaker leaver Bill Savitt is reported to have romanced senior partner Sarah Eddy. She was on his team but not a subordinate. Both were not in other relationships at the time.

Since the law firm doesn't have a non-fraternization policy all that was jolly fine. Folks who find their soulmate are considered blessed.  

But, come on, aren't there always questions of organizational influence rooted in interactions among lovers? Did fantasy run wild about what one or both partners might be saying about you? 

So much of a personal brand is determined informally through whispers. 

The formal performance review primarily serves as documentation to be leveraged if legal issues come up. That's exactly why seasoned players plant spies in the organization's grapevines. They not only bring back the gossip. They can facilitate seeding the talk channels with fresh intel favorable to the player. I publish extensively, including in O'Dwyer's Public Relations, on the dynamics of organizational grapevines. 

One of the most comprehensive guides on power is "The Power Game" by Hedrick Smith. Much of professional services, especially elite law firms, operate on power systems. Stars control the grids. At Wachtell, junior partner Nathaniel Cullerton wasn't enough of a twinkler to go rogue with the rules. He romanced a young subordinate, in an inappropriate manner. 

In coaching I educate junior members of teams how to "know their place" while still exuding confidence and proceeding from a position of strength.

Careers. Forget all that. It’s about earning a good living, no matter what.

Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova, StreetSmart Coaching (janegenova374@gmail.com)


Careers. Forget all that. It’s about earning a good living, no matter what.

Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova, StreetSmart Coaching (janegenova374@gmail.com)



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