Are You Betty or Amanda?

I love me some Ugly Betty and not because of Betty. In fact, I can do without Betty altogether, but I heart Marc, Amanda and the diva that is Wilhelmina . So when I came across this quiz asking whether or not I am an ambitious ruthless Amanda or a team-playing Ugly Betty? I thought that is just a nice way of saying are you a fabulous diva who will step on any bitches face with her Louboutin Mary Janes to get to the top or a fugly bitch who wears blue braces, polka dots and likes being a loser? So anyway....who are you? 1. A colleague is given the promotion you wanted, do you: a) congratulate her and then get over it – she is the boss now, after all? b) ask your manager exactly why you missed out this time and what you can do to improve your chances in future? c) suffer a huge crisis of self-esteem – why do you never win anything? d) act pleased, but then watch and wait – you prefer to keep your enemies close so you can look for weaknesses? 2. When you gossip at work: a) it's mainly about celebs or reality TV characters. You enjoy this type of gossip because it helps bond the team. b) you never gossip. You know how it feels to be talked about. c) it's totally workplace based. It's a guilty pleasure but you love finding out who fancies whom. d) you get your PA to do it for you. That way you get to collect information about rivals and start rumours without anyone knowing where they came from. 3. You need to delegate some of your workload, do you: a) consider asking someone else but then do it yourself? It's the only way to get a job done properly. b) barter, offering to take on something for them at a later date? c) drop huge hints but then give up and stay late to get through it all yourself? d) pick someone who owes you a favour and remind them of that fact? 4. Business meetings are: a) mostly dull but a chance to have a coffee and a croissant and daydream. You struggle getting heard and generally prefer one-to-one conversations. b) hell: organising everyone into the same room at the same time and then making sure that the tea arrives with the right biscuits is a nightmare. c) a good place to show off your new Prada briefcase – and how well you're doing. d) OK if they're run well. It's a chance to hear from the rest of the team and exchange views. 5. A colleague phones in sick, do you: a) suspect they're skiving but say nothing, knowing that you can use it against them when you report back to the MD. b) sympathise, but ask exactly when they might be back so you can organise cover. c) listen to every gory detail of their tummy bug and then ask what they had on at work so that you can do it for them. d) act convinced even though you know they were on a bender the night before – after all, who doesn't do it now and again? 6. You have a brilliant business idea, do you: a) keep it close to your chest, biding your time until you can take it to your boss? You don't want to risk anyone else taking the credit for it. b) say nothing? The more you think it through the more stupid it begins to sound. You don't want people laughing at you. c) brief the team and let them brainstorm and discuss it before you all take it to the MD? d) sit on it – why share it at your present company when you could use it to set up a rival firm? 7. E-mail at work is a great way to: a) send all those tricky messages that you'd find difficult to deliver face to face. b) send messages at midnight – and prove that you're working harder than anyone else. c) watch your back – it provides proof that jobs have been completed and information passed on. d) catch up on the latest chat with the rest of the office. 8. Flirting at work is: a) a potential form of sexual harassment, but OK if it's done for fun. b) a way of getting a date. After all, 40 per cent of us meet our partners in the workplace. c) a tool to get your own way, or even a promotion. You know you can use your looks to wind most of the guys around your little finger. d) something that can make you feel flustered and confused. You have problems knowing when a guy is joking or being serious. 9. Your ideal desk is: a) in an open-plan space that's cluttered but comfortable. You like a few personal objects around too. b) one with Alan Sugar-style proportions: desk like a landing strip and an office with glass walls so everyone can see you. c) in the corner where no one bothers you. d) at home, for days when you need to get on with your job, plus another in a busy open-plan office, so that you can work with the team. 10. Your ideal boss would be: a) hands-on and accessible; someone who can motivate and encourage when the going gets tough. b) an elderly multimillionaire with heart problems and no heirs. c) kind and friendly – someone you can go to with problems. d) a real performer – someone who can turn your team around and get results. SCORES Question 1) a = 3, b = 5, c = 1, d = 7 Question 2) a = 3, b = 1, c = 5, d = 7 Question 3) a = 3, b = 5, c = 1, d = 7 Question 4) a = 3, b = 1, c = 7, d = 5 Question 5) a = 7, b = 5, c = 1, d = 3 Question 6) a = 5, b = 3, c = 7, d = 1 Question 7) a = 5, b = 1, c = 3, d = 7 Question 8) a = 1, b = 7, c = 5, d = 3 Question 9) a = 5, b = 7, c = 1, d = 3 Question 10) a = 3, b = 7, c = 1, d = 5 WHAT YOUR SCORE MEANS 10-20 points Heard about the fight-or-flight response to perceived fear and danger? Well, your receptors are fixed firmly on flight mode, meaning you have a tendency to duck out of trouble by making yourself as invisible as possible. As a business-survival technique this can pay dividends, but only if you don't mind being treated as a doormat. Any Amandas in your company will see you as fair game, there to be stepped over and walked upon. Your mantra is probably 'Anything for a quiet life' but, unfortunately, you risk getting dumped on by everybody and, ultimately, losing self-esteem. How to get ahead Assertive behaviour is a valuable investment even though it can take you out of your comfort zone. It is possible to say no without causing a world war, and it's also possible to get your point across without shouting over everyone's head. Start by maximising your use of eye contact and adopting a confident posture, with no fiddling or arm barriers. Use a clear tone and don't back down after you've spoken. Stop saying "no problem", as it implies that you're happy to work too hard for too long. 21-35 points You have strong values and opinions, but you are also very empathic and more into team work than personal glory. In an ideal office environment, and with an inspirational boss, you'd get promotion and recognition, but in an every-woman-for-herself "Amanda" environment, you're likely to struggle with the office politics. You're not a natural performer and your lack of confidence in meetings could make you look like a lightweight. How to get ahead Your ideas are good but you might need to work on your delivery. The people shouting the loudest are often the most insecure, so take your courage in both hands and present your ideas and thoughts in a firm, confident manner. Keep true to your values, too. An office environment doesn't have to be about the survival of the fittest. Successful businesses need team players and that means flexible roles and cooperation, rather than power-posturing and infighting. Make your mantra 'I feel calm, confident and in control' and duck out of any office politics rather than getting sucked in. 36-55 points You're a true business survivor because you are able to speak up for yourself but without trampling on the rights of others. Your assertiveness skills are honed to perfection and you usually have the confidence needed to stand your ground. If there are any criticisms of your behavioural style it's probably that you can seem a bit cool and aloof at times and that you don't suffer fools gladly, as you expect the same standards from colleagues as you expect from yourself. How to get ahead You're uber-professional but you might need to remember to let your hair down now and again, too. Assertive behaviour means suppressing your animal side, ie, avoiding any knee-jerk, emotional responses and sticking to the logical and practical approach. This is fine as long as you have an outlet for all that suppressed emotion and allow your inner child/ape behaviours free rein with bouts of noisy, impulsive fun, passion and energy outside the workplace environment. You don't need a workplace mantra but the minute you leave the office it should be "Life's too short". 56-70 points You are a true Machiavellian character, a warrior-woman in the workplace who is ruthless and tough enough to fight her way to the top. Your focus is very clear and everything else is a means to an end, which means you should ideally be looking for a job in politics or a seat in the boardroom of most major corporations. For you, getting to the top means warfare and winning, but you do need to remind yourself that many of your battles have been self-induced and that you're treading a very lonely, isolating path. No matter how power-hungry you might be, we're all programmed from birth to need relationships and to be liked as well. How to get ahead Although you're probably not into popularity contests, you do need to keep some people around you who you can trust and who you can see as friends. Your need to fight suggests a lot of insecurity. Confident, charismatic people are usually happy to use a lighter touch and let others take some of the glory and credit now and again — and this would make you a better boss. Trusting other people is much harder than fighting them, but it's ultimately more rewarding as constant battles lead to stress and paranoia. Make your mantra "I'm OK — you're OK" and learn to see other people and yourself as trustworthy and supportive.