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Do you think that employees stick around because the CEO/leadership says "we've got this new direction we are super excited about" and they would bail if they g

Do you think that employees stick around because the CEO/leadership says "we've got this new direction we are super excited about" and they would bail if they got "nothing... has created a viable business"? That is, are the employees who stick around happy to stick their heads in the sand as long as the leadership throws out the "we're excited" bone? I would prefer the honesty about the hail mary and I would think most HN readers would feel the same, but I wonder if that's the norm and CEOs/leaders just can't/won't (shouldn't?) admit the reality regardless of how obvious that reality is. EDIT: I should also say that I'd likely go to the mat for the person who's honest about the hail mary.

ChuckMcM 9y ago
I can't speak for Berlin of course, but in the Bay Area the employees are usually in a pretty reasonable position. They can leave if they want and get jobs somewhere else, often the company will provide incentives for some or all of them to stay that probably pay dividends whether or not the company succeeds at making it into a new direction. I prefer to be honest with folks who work for me in such situations as well, but that is generally a leadership style that is particular to the leader.
ThrowawayR2 9y ago
> Do you think that employees stick around because the CEO/leadership says "we've got this new direction we are super excited about" and they would bail if they got "nothing... has created a viable business"? That is, are the employees who stick around happy to stick their heads in the sand as long as the leadership throws out the "we're excited" bone? I think you underestimate the capacity for people to delude themselves. Change is painful and a change that leaves behind a projects that you've invested heavily in is even more painful (sunk cost fallacy). Talking about the realities of the situation shatters that self-delusion. You also fail to account for morale. We've all heard of tightly-knit teams who managed to succeed against incredible odds because they believed in what they were doing; the converse is much less talked about: teams that believe they cannot succeed, inevitably won't. So, from a management perspective, it never makes sense to admit one is in a "Hail Mary" situation, even when it's patently obvious. > EDIT: I should also say that I'd likely go to the mat for the person who's honest about the hail mary. Bluntly, why? Your family and your future retirement depends on your income and career success. If the prospects for success are that bleak, how does it make sense for you to take on that risk personally? "For the good of the company?" For your own sake, I would hope not.
- stillkicking 9y ago
  The capacity for self-delusion is indeed great, but in my experience, the only people deluding themselves in a situation like that is management thinking they are successfully saving face. Which is really what it's about. Employees know what's up. The people who just lost their job are plunged into chaos regardless, and the ones who are still part of the ride are now wondering when they'll be next. If management has shown they will keep up appearances right up until it becomes untenable, that teaches employees a very destructive lesson: you won't have any clue you might lose your job until it's already a done deal. That doesn't create peace of mind, it creates paranoia. Worse is when such a restructuring is paired with lofty visions of how the new strategy is going to work out in 6 months or a year, often presented in a very long and painful meeting. All anyone really wants to know is what is going to happen next: how are the next few weeks going to play out, now that a bunch of people are no longer here, and everyone else has to pick up the slack regardless? That's why you should respect people who are actually honest with you. Being given the information you need to plan for the future is far more important than pretending you don't need to.
- harmmonica 9y ago
  Wasn't trying to underestimate. Was actually genuinely asking the question, which I appreciate you answering. I think you're likely right--many people are more than happy to delude themselves. Maybe I'm too cynical for that. And I think morale can actually improve when you're in an us-against-the-world situation, which is how I'd describe the hail mary situation. Lastly, why would I go to the mat? Because assuming I still care about the mission of the company, I think some of the greatest opportunities for growth (intellectual, financial) can come out of the darkest hours at companies. And I'm older, but this was my attitude back in the day when confronted by potentially-failing companies. I think we often run from what frightens us instead of appreciating how many new doors may open in those types of situations. Sort of like the (Buffett?) quote "be greedy when people are scared, scared when people are greedy." Yeah, survivorship bias and all, but I'd step into an argument where someone asked if opportunity is more likely in chaos or success (might lose that argument, but I'd still have it).

ChuckMcM 9y ago

I can't speak for Berlin of course, but in the Bay Area the employees are usually in a pretty reasonable position. They can leave if they want and get jobs somewhere else, often the company will provide incentives for some or all of them to stay that probably pay dividends whether or not the company succeeds at making it into a new direction. I prefer to be honest with folks who work for me in such situations as well, but that is generally a leadership style that is particular to the leader.

ThrowawayR2 9y ago

> Do you think that employees stick around because the CEO/leadership says "we've got this new direction we are super excited about" and they would bail if they got "nothing... has created a viable business"? That is, are the employees who stick around happy to stick their heads in the sand as long as the leadership throws out the "we're excited" bone? I think you underestimate the capacity for people to delude themselves. Change is painful and a change that leaves behind a projects that you've invested heavily in is even more painful (sunk cost fallacy). Talking about the realities of the situation shatters that self-delusion. You also fail to account for morale. We've all heard of tightly-knit teams who managed to succeed against incredible odds because they believed in what they were doing; the converse is much less talked about: teams that believe they cannot succeed, inevitably won't. So, from a management perspective, it never makes sense to admit one is in a "Hail Mary" situation, even when it's patently obvious. > EDIT: I should also say that I'd likely go to the mat for the person who's honest about the hail mary. Bluntly, why? Your family and your future retirement depends on your income and career success. If the prospects for success are that bleak, how does it make sense for you to take on that risk personally? "For the good of the company?" For your own sake, I would hope not.

stillkicking 9y ago
The capacity for self-delusion is indeed great, but in my experience, the only people deluding themselves in a situation like that is management thinking they are successfully saving face. Which is really what it's about. Employees know what's up. The people who just lost their job are plunged into chaos regardless, and the ones who are still part of the ride are now wondering when they'll be next. If management has shown they will keep up appearances right up until it becomes untenable, that teaches employees a very destructive lesson: you won't have any clue you might lose your job until it's already a done deal. That doesn't create peace of mind, it creates paranoia. Worse is when such a restructuring is paired with lofty visions of how the new strategy is going to work out in 6 months or a year, often presented in a very long and painful meeting. All anyone really wants to know is what is going to happen next: how are the next few weeks going to play out, now that a bunch of people are no longer here, and everyone else has to pick up the slack regardless? That's why you should respect people who are actually honest with you. Being given the information you need to plan for the future is far more important than pretending you don't need to.
harmmonica 9y ago
Wasn't trying to underestimate. Was actually genuinely asking the question, which I appreciate you answering. I think you're likely right--many people are more than happy to delude themselves. Maybe I'm too cynical for that. And I think morale can actually improve when you're in an us-against-the-world situation, which is how I'd describe the hail mary situation. Lastly, why would I go to the mat? Because assuming I still care about the mission of the company, I think some of the greatest opportunities for growth (intellectual, financial) can come out of the darkest hours at companies. And I'm older, but this was my attitude back in the day when confronted by potentially-failing companies. I think we often run from what frightens us instead of appreciating how many new doors may open in those types of situations. Sort of like the (Buffett?) quote "be greedy when people are scared, scared when people are greedy." Yeah, survivorship bias and all, but I'd step into an argument where someone asked if opportunity is more likely in chaos or success (might lose that argument, but I'd still have it).