Damage Done

Can We Drop the "Good-Looking" Comments

When Speaking of Women Professionals

Last Friday, I ran errands. Having been on the road much of the week, I decided to spend the day dropping off checks at the bank, projects at the printer and some well-worn travel clothes at the dry cleaners.

In the midst of my running, I stopped for lunch at a restaurant with a TV broadcasting the latest news. Around Noon that day, everyone’s attention seemed focused on President Obama’s off hand remark about Kamala Harris, California’s Attorney General.

In case you missed the news, last Thursday, during a National Democratic fundraising luncheon in California, President Obama referred to his long-time friend as “by far the best-looking attorney general,” according to several news reports.

Within a matter of hours, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney reported that the president had phoned Ms. Harris and apologized. In a statement to the press, Carney said of the president, “He fully recognizes the challenges women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance.”

Since then, I’ve followed reactions to the remarks. Among the best in my opinion is Washington Post opinion writer Ruth Marcus’s contribution, “An act of political malpractice,” April 7, 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ruth-marcus-an-act-of-political-malpractice/2013/04/07/8a230624-9fcc-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html?hpid=z2

What Do You Need to Know?

Here’s the take-away for interns, summer associates and new hires: Choose your words carefully. At this stage in your career, it's critical that others view you as someone who excels at getting along. Anything you say—including comments made with the no bad intent—can come back and haunt you.

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