EQUALITY GUIdE - KU Leuven

Chapter 4 ! Scientific communication 201
argues. “Instead of going to a reception, women will finish their reports or go home,
forgetting that at these receptions important contacts are made and maintained.”
To create career opportunities, visibility can make the difference. Nuyens outlined the
picture of two persons A and B: both are intelligent, have the right diploma and are
prepared to invest the necessary time. These factors are absolute required for a top
career. Between person A and B there is however a notable difference in visibility.
Person B spends more hours to be visible in the organization than person A. Even if B
is less intelligent and invests less time in his or her own work, this person will have
nevertheless more chances to obtain a promotion.
Intelligence/diploma Time-investment Visibility
Person B
Figure 16: The importance of visibility
A second important point of interest that Nuyens explained during the presentation
was the metaphor of the table lamps and the chandeliers. From her book: “In every
organization there are table lamps and chandeliers. The table lamps work fast, heave
on their files, and if they have an executive task, they are mainly concerned with the
team. The chandeliers on the other hand look around and up the whole time. They
continuously try to get attention and always focus on their bosses. (...) In many organizations,
the top-level bosses are chandeliers. (...) Chandeliers climb the ladder a lot
faster than table lamps. Their hanging culture means they are noticed quicker. The
bosses recognize themselves in them (as they are chandeliers as well) and therefore
consider other chandeliers as suitable candidates. The table lamps do not realize what
is going on but when it comes to promotion, they are skipped time and time again. (...)
Most women, clever and competent as they may be, opt for the table lamp model. Do
they have to panic immediately? No, you can live with it (...). Forcing yourself to be
something you are not (a chandelier), will make you unhappy. (...) However, it would
make a difference if women realized they have to help their boss to make sure he/she
gets to know their qualities. (...) In other words, don’t just talk about your team and
your employees. Talk about your own merits as well.” 239
The second guest speaker of this meeting, Brigitte Hertz, neatly took up where the
previous speaker had left off. In fact, she also worked with the group on the topic of
visibility, be it from a very practical angle. She is the author of the book “Presenting
research” and she emphasized the importance of presenting ourselves to the people
239 Nuyens, H. (2005), op. cit., p. 113.
Person A