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This should be a key point to surviving in the corporate world. Whenever the CEO or VP of engineering spoke, I always paid attention to what was glossed over or

This should be a key point to surviving in the corporate world. Whenever the CEO or VP of engineering spoke, I always paid attention to what was glossed over or conveniently omitted from the official line. While I found it all somewhat distasteful and duplicitous, it's the game. As such, I occasionally found it entertaining to discern what was really being communicated to me. Most other people take these kinds of official communication at face value. Never turn off your brain at work.

wolco 9y ago
You are better off not paying attention at all.
- tallanvor 9y ago
  Those who don't pay attention are the ones who get below average reviews and raises and then wonder why it happened. You absolutely need to pay attention to what is being said at all of your levels of management and figure out how to not only do your job well, but also to do so in a way that supports management.
mseebach 9y ago
And what specific benefits did you get from this? What actionable insights did you get that your colleagues missed out on? I've known quite a few monday morning quarterbacks/sophomore kremlinologists/cynics who would regale anyone who'd listen with their analysis of what management is really doing and (especially) what they obviously should have done. What is less clear is how this deep insight ever led to any actionable intelligence at all.
- simonh 9y ago
  I was working at an ISV trying to get a new product production ready. It was horrible, a monolithic opaque system that didn't work properly and had been languishing in development hell for almost a decade. Management refused to consider alternative proposals, insisted on doubling down on this system and 'bet the company' on it. When I realised they were really serious, I left. Their first major sale of the new system to a client fell through 6 months later because the system wasn't ready (would probably never have been ready) and 3 months after that they were bought out and the project cancelled by the new owners. For those I left behind it was utter hell. So this is a counter-example in a way. Rather than their commitment being unconvincing, it really was convincing. Still they were on a direct course to screwing up and I got out at just the right time.
- itronitron 9y ago
  it's not always actionable, but the insight gained by actively analyzing/questioning/doubting the messaging from upper management is useful for a. keeping one's sanity, b. scheduling an exit, c. meaningful discussion, d. identifying opportunities within the organization, and e. entertainment value (stories to share with SO).
- pm90 9y ago
  It may not be actionable at all. Executives are where they are for a good reason: they are (usually) good communicators, effective at presenting a hopeful future even if the present sucks. The only thing employees can do is to decide if its worth working for them, as usually they don't have much control over the direction of the company.
eeZah7Ux 9y ago
> somewhat distasteful and duplicitous Somewhat? Manipulating your employees using lies and misdirection and then firing them should not be considered ethically acceptable.
- fullshark 9y ago
  I don't know, it goes both ways. I don't tell my manager what I really think and i've seen them be shocked by sudden exits from employees (leaving them in big trouble).

wolco 9y ago

You are better off not paying attention at all.

tallanvor 9y ago
Those who don't pay attention are the ones who get below average reviews and raises and then wonder why it happened. You absolutely need to pay attention to what is being said at all of your levels of management and figure out how to not only do your job well, but also to do so in a way that supports management.

mseebach 9y ago

And what specific benefits did you get from this? What actionable insights did you get that your colleagues missed out on? I've known quite a few monday morning quarterbacks/sophomore kremlinologists/cynics who would regale anyone who'd listen with their analysis of what management is really doing and (especially) what they obviously should have done. What is less clear is how this deep insight ever led to any actionable intelligence at all.

simonh 9y ago
I was working at an ISV trying to get a new product production ready. It was horrible, a monolithic opaque system that didn't work properly and had been languishing in development hell for almost a decade. Management refused to consider alternative proposals, insisted on doubling down on this system and 'bet the company' on it. When I realised they were really serious, I left. Their first major sale of the new system to a client fell through 6 months later because the system wasn't ready (would probably never have been ready) and 3 months after that they were bought out and the project cancelled by the new owners. For those I left behind it was utter hell. So this is a counter-example in a way. Rather than their commitment being unconvincing, it really was convincing. Still they were on a direct course to screwing up and I got out at just the right time.
itronitron 9y ago
it's not always actionable, but the insight gained by actively analyzing/questioning/doubting the messaging from upper management is useful for a. keeping one's sanity, b. scheduling an exit, c. meaningful discussion, d. identifying opportunities within the organization, and e. entertainment value (stories to share with SO).
pm90 9y ago
It may not be actionable at all. Executives are where they are for a good reason: they are (usually) good communicators, effective at presenting a hopeful future even if the present sucks. The only thing employees can do is to decide if its worth working for them, as usually they don't have much control over the direction of the company.

eeZah7Ux 9y ago

> somewhat distasteful and duplicitous Somewhat? Manipulating your employees using lies and misdirection and then firing them should not be considered ethically acceptable.

fullshark 9y ago
I don't know, it goes both ways. I don't tell my manager what I really think and i've seen them be shocked by sudden exits from employees (leaving them in big trouble).