Being vs. Having Been

Question

A.  n my last job, I was able to commit people to action being the supervisor of our team.B.  In my last job, I was able to commit people to action having been the supervisor of our team.1.  Which one is correct above?2.  Do you think "being" is not appropriate since I'm no longer the supervisor of that team?3.  If both are OK, what is the difference?Please advise.  Thank you.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I already commented in your other thread.

Overall, let me just say here that you seem to be saying something that the reader will already know. All supervisors can tell people what to do.

The common term with a team is 'team leader'.

Clive.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

Again, thank you for commenting here and in my other thread.

CliveOverall, let me just say here that you seem to be saying something that the reader will already know. All supervisors can tell people what to do.

Suppose I rewrite my original sentences to the following, which do you think is correct? I really wanted to learn the difference between "being" and "having been" in these examples. Please help.

A. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team being their previous team leader.
B. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team having been their previous team leader.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Suppose I rewrite my original sentences to the following, which do you think is correct? I really wanted to learn the difference between "being" and "having been" in these examples. Please help.

Your time references are all mixed up.

A. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team being their previous team leader.
'Pervious' makes it sound like you were their leader on two separate projects.

B. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team having been their previous team leader
Sounds like you weren't their team leader when you deivered outstanding resuts as ther team leader. This obviously is nonsense.

Just say 'As a team leader, I delivered outstanding results'.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for your explanations.

CliveYour time references are all mixed up.
A. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team being their previous team leader.
'Pervious' makes it sound like you were their leader on two separate projects.

Couldn't "previous" here mean that I was their team leader before their current one at the moment I'm speaking this?

What about saying the following instead? I want to express that my leadership skills are somewhat effective that it produced good results from the team.

Being their team leader at that time, I was able to make the team deliver outstanding results.

I think I can also say the following, but how is "as" different from "being"?

As their team leader at that time, I was able to make the team deliver outstanding results.

Which is better: "as" or "being"? Please advise. Thank you.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Thank you very much for your explanations.

(missing image) Clive

“Your time references are all mixed up.
A. I was able to deliver outstanding result from my team being their previous team leader.
'Pervious' makes it sound like you were their leader on two separate projects.”

Couldn't "previous" here mean that I was their team leader before their current one at the moment I'm speaking this? Yes. But it could also mean that you used to be thier team leadrer and someone else then became the leader. It's just a confusing word to use here.

What about saying the following instead? I've already given you my suggestion. I don't wish to keep repeating myself. I think you are trying too hard to say this in a needlessly complicated way.

I want to express that my leadership skills are somewhat effective that it produced good results from the team.

Being their team leader at that time, I was able to make the team deliver outstanding results.

I think I can also say the following, but how is "as" different from "being"? 'As' suggests more 'in that role', so I prefer it. It's also more idiomatic.

As their team leader at that time, I was able to make the team deliver outstanding results.

Which is better: "as" or "being"? Please advise. Thank you.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

CliveCouldn't "previous" here mean that I was their team leader before their current one at the moment I'm speaking this? Yes. But it could also mean that you used to be thier team leadrer and someone else then became the leader. It's just a confusing word to use here.

I think I now understand. It's just confusing to write my sentence like I did.

CliveWhat about saying the following instead? I've already given you my suggestion. I don't wish to keep repeating myself. I think you are trying too hard to say this in a needlessly complicated way.

I will write it as you've suggested and use "as" instead. It's just that I don't completely understand the use of "being" in a sentence.

Just one more question, is it not possible to use "being" to refer to a past event?
Are the following phrases not possible or illogical?

Being (sth, sb) at that time...
Being (sth, sb) in the past...
Being (sth, sb) when I was...

Thank you for your help and patience.

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Clive

“Couldn't "previous" here mean that I was their team leader before their current one at the moment I'm speaking this? Yes. But it could also mean that you used to be thier team leadrer and someone else then became the leader. It's just a confusing word to use here.”

I think I now understand. It's just confusing to write my sentence like I did.

Clive

“What about saying the following instead? I've already given you my suggestion. I don't wish to keep repeating myself. I think you are trying too hard to say this in a needlessly complicated way.”

I will write it as you've suggested and use "as" instead. It's just that I don't completely understand the use of "being" in a sentence.

Just one more question, is it not possible to use "being" to refer to a past event? Yes, it is. Did I say it wasn't possible?

Are the following phrases not possible or illogical? Yes, they are possible and logical. But they sound clumsy and unnatural, particularly in your previous examples.

Being (sth, sb) at that time...
Being (sth, sb) in the past...
Being (sth, sb) when I was...

Here are more examples. Again, they are correct but they don't sound good.

eg Being a policeman, I arrested the robber.
eg Being a policeman, I arrest robbers.

eg Being a policeman, I will arrest the robber.

Clive

Thank you for your help and patience.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Clive. Everything is clear to me now and I appreciate all what you've explained.

CliveHere are more examples. Again, they are correct but they don't sound good.
eg Being a policeman, I arrested the robber.
eg Breing policeman, I arrest robbers.
eg Being a policeman, I will arrest the robber.

I see they are correct, but 'as' is better than 'being' to sound idiomatic.
Again, thank you for your time and helping me.

Being vs. Having Been

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