4 ms·

People are less ambitious, as hard work is rarely the path to promotion. Promotions are highly political and also rely on a good amount of luck.

marssaxman 4y ago
Why is promotion a goal?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- Rury 4y ago
  People like when things go their way, and it's easier to get things to go your way, when you're in a position of power. Promotions can help put you in such positions.
- nirvdrum 4y ago
  It's the only way to get a raise at many places. At least, the only way to escape your current salary band. It's also generally accepted as a primary mechanism for determining how a company values your work, unless you hit one of those "career levels." If you're a junior person stuck at a low level for a few years, something is probably askew. It'd be fantastic if positions had a wider salary band and you could earn raises for productivity without having to constantly climb the corporate ladder. I've not really seen that outside of union jobs and even then, you don't have a band so much as a guaranteed raise every few years. This is all based on US companies I've seen in the tech (salaried) and construction (union, hourly) sectors.
- ngc248 4y ago
  Because hard workers/the ones who actually know how shit works stay in the trenches, while the ones who know jackall get promoted. Then these people get have veto and power over the ones who actually deliver value. That is why promotion must be a goal for everyone, so that people who actually have a clue get to make the decisions.
  - wonderwonder 4y ago
    The thing is though that people/ project management and development are very different skills. I've had an interesting experience recently where a team keeps asking me for things that are relatively dumb and I say no but I said yes this last time because I don't want to be the place where everything they ask for goes to die. Saying yes on this thing, while not a small ask, helps them stay motivated and feel appreciated even though there is truly no value to it. Learning these things has changed my opinion on leadership. There are of course still bad leaders but the people that get things done and those that manage large groups are often not the same person as they are very different problem sets.
- watwut 4y ago
  Better salary and better treatment and more autonomy ...
wonderwonder 4y ago
I'm a tech lead, middle management. Only been here 7 months. Very very big company. Hierarchy wise, I report to a director, who reports to an svp who reports to the CTO. I can't see any path to promotion no matter how good a job I do. You are right in that knowing this is highly demotivational. I do get a variable end of year bonus though. Will wait to see how much that is before deciding if I'll stay or go.

marssaxman 4y ago

Why is promotion a goal?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Rury 4y ago
People like when things go their way, and it's easier to get things to go your way, when you're in a position of power. Promotions can help put you in such positions.
nirvdrum 4y ago
It's the only way to get a raise at many places. At least, the only way to escape your current salary band. It's also generally accepted as a primary mechanism for determining how a company values your work, unless you hit one of those "career levels." If you're a junior person stuck at a low level for a few years, something is probably askew. It'd be fantastic if positions had a wider salary band and you could earn raises for productivity without having to constantly climb the corporate ladder. I've not really seen that outside of union jobs and even then, you don't have a band so much as a guaranteed raise every few years. This is all based on US companies I've seen in the tech (salaried) and construction (union, hourly) sectors.
ngc248 4y ago
Because hard workers/the ones who actually know how shit works stay in the trenches, while the ones who know jackall get promoted. Then these people get have veto and power over the ones who actually deliver value. That is why promotion must be a goal for everyone, so that people who actually have a clue get to make the decisions.
- wonderwonder 4y ago
  The thing is though that people/ project management and development are very different skills. I've had an interesting experience recently where a team keeps asking me for things that are relatively dumb and I say no but I said yes this last time because I don't want to be the place where everything they ask for goes to die. Saying yes on this thing, while not a small ask, helps them stay motivated and feel appreciated even though there is truly no value to it. Learning these things has changed my opinion on leadership. There are of course still bad leaders but the people that get things done and those that manage large groups are often not the same person as they are very different problem sets.
watwut 4y ago
Better salary and better treatment and more autonomy ...

wonderwonder 4y ago

I'm a tech lead, middle management. Only been here 7 months. Very very big company. Hierarchy wise, I report to a director, who reports to an svp who reports to the CTO. I can't see any path to promotion no matter how good a job I do. You are right in that knowing this is highly demotivational. I do get a variable end of year bonus though. Will wait to see how much that is before deciding if I'll stay or go.