The subunit I worked for, was almost supernaturally dysfunctional.
I was there for 18 months, and they had 3 reorgs, in that time.
Once, the VP of our division, called an “all-hands” meeting, to tell us that he was a lawyer that didn’t have a computer, didn’t like software (we were a software company), basically, didn’t like us, and that we’d better get on the stick, and make number go up.
Ah…fun times…
Unfathomably based. I'd much prefer these honest types who are upfront about it, that I don't like you, we don't like you either, it's all transactional here, work in exchange for money till we find a better job, than the sociopath corporate assassins who try to gaslight workers telling everyone how we're all family and we're all in this tough period together, meanwhile doing layoffs, cutting things like break room coffee while buying another Porsche and building an executive gym.
Employment is not a romantic relationship where mutual feelings are required, it's a transactional one. You don't need to like your CEO and the CEO doesn't need to like you.
You need to provide value for the company and the company has to pay you money in exchange, that's how it works. Two parties can monetarily prosper together while simultaneously disliking each other. Nations do it all the time, see China and the US, and business partners do it all the time, see the MythBusters and many more. The most successful business people are also the ones who are best at putting feelings and emotions aside of financial interest.
Gaslighting workers that a private company will have feelings or emotional attachment towards them will only result in disappointment for you, but it's a lesson many learn the hard way. They won't be by your deathbed, only your family will.
Do you want the harsh truth or the sweet lie? Because that GE exec at least told it to you straight like to an adult, hence my chapeau, even if it shatters your rosy belief. The world could use more like them, instead of the sociopaths who manipulate you to stick around while they're already planning for the group's crash in a year which is coincidently when their golden parachute stocks vest.
I can say “I don’t know how to do brain surgery and furthermore I have no interest to learn.” You may correctly determine I am being honest but this in no way qualifies me to do brain surgery.
Knowledge and experience matters. Welchian leadership aggressively and deliberately dismisses all knowledge as a cost to be minimized. The idea is you can make up for any organizational shortcoming if you just abuse people enough. It’s a very leaded pipe era way of thinking.
The disastrous results of this philosophy speak for themselves.