5 ms·

This type of career progression interests me. What type of internal politics did Parag have to maneuver to be appointed to these high profile roles? As someone

This type of career progression interests me. What type of internal politics did Parag have to maneuver to be appointed to these high profile roles? As someone with C-level career aspirations, it makes me wonder if I'm not cut out for the politics. I'm not Machiavellian. Can people make it to C-suite via merit alone?

jackblemming 5y ago
No merit alone doesn’t work. You absolutely need to be both charismatic and that guy who’s constantly asking their boss what they can do for promotions or more money. Bonus points if you’re tall. That’s pretty much it.
- pempem 5y ago
  Being male doesn't hurt.
  - rajin444 5y ago
    Yes, being tall and assertive is more common among males. What point are you trying to make?
    - lhnz 5y ago
      His point is that a tall and assertive woman would be less likely to be made CEO than her male contemporary.
      - pempem 5y ago
        Thanks :) that is in fact my point! https://hbr.org/2016/04/if-theres-only-one-woman-in-your-candidate-pool-theres-statistically-no-chance-shell-be-hired https://hbr.org/2016/04/if-theres-only-one-woman-in-your-can... There are more CEOs of large U.S. companies who are named David (4.5%) than there are CEOs who are women (4.1%) — and David isn’t even the most common first name among CEOs. (That would be John, at 5.3%.)
      - rajin444 5y ago
        Are we able to construct experiments to test this? I’m not sure how that’s possible given the confounds we don’t have the ability to control for (genetics being a huge one). Looking at group level statistics can’t provide a definitive answer due to this. If you have some links that prove otherwise I’d love to see them!
woah 5y ago
Multiple times, I've seen inoffensive personalities be internally promoted to C level positions ahead of more politically savvy (and often more effective) candidates. This often takes place after the departing executive has a strong personality or leaves for contentious reasons. Everyone wants someone nice and trustworthy and unambitious to take over so that the organization can heal. I'm guessing this is what happened at Twitter. How to maneuver into this position? Maybe you could get hired to an important role at an organization with an unstable CEO, and make sure that you are friends with everyone and don't piss anyone off. Then wait for the CEO to lose their shit completely.

jackblemming 5y ago

No merit alone doesn’t work. You absolutely need to be both charismatic and that guy who’s constantly asking their boss what they can do for promotions or more money. Bonus points if you’re tall. That’s pretty much it.

pempem 5y ago
Being male doesn't hurt.
- rajin444 5y ago
  Yes, being tall and assertive is more common among males. What point are you trying to make?
  - lhnz 5y ago
    His point is that a tall and assertive woman would be less likely to be made CEO than her male contemporary.
    - pempem 5y ago
      Thanks :) that is in fact my point! https://hbr.org/2016/04/if-theres-only-one-woman-in-your-candidate-pool-theres-statistically-no-chance-shell-be-hired https://hbr.org/2016/04/if-theres-only-one-woman-in-your-can... There are more CEOs of large U.S. companies who are named David (4.5%) than there are CEOs who are women (4.1%) — and David isn’t even the most common first name among CEOs. (That would be John, at 5.3%.)
    - rajin444 5y ago
      Are we able to construct experiments to test this? I’m not sure how that’s possible given the confounds we don’t have the ability to control for (genetics being a huge one). Looking at group level statistics can’t provide a definitive answer due to this. If you have some links that prove otherwise I’d love to see them!

woah 5y ago

Multiple times, I've seen inoffensive personalities be internally promoted to C level positions ahead of more politically savvy (and often more effective) candidates. This often takes place after the departing executive has a strong personality or leaves for contentious reasons. Everyone wants someone nice and trustworthy and unambitious to take over so that the organization can heal. I'm guessing this is what happened at Twitter. How to maneuver into this position? Maybe you could get hired to an important role at an organization with an unstable CEO, and make sure that you are friends with everyone and don't piss anyone off. Then wait for the CEO to lose their shit completely.