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I think every team/project needs a goat who will argue that the strategy being chosen is wrongheaded and will lead to problems. And who will also enthusiastical

I think every team/project needs a goat who will argue that the strategy being chosen is wrongheaded and will lead to problems. And who will also enthusiastically work to succeed with that strategy after being outvoted or overruled, while keeping their objections in mind and working hard to avoid them as much as possible. Some people who have the final say can't stand a goat, and take any negativity about their vision as a cue to start figuring out how to get rid of that negativity. They often code that as a bad culture fit.

ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
I have been the goat[0]. When I worked for a Japanese company, we were expected to voice objections and disagreements, during the deliberation process. However, after the decision was made, we were expected to close ranks, and fall in line. I learned to do this. I have found, when working with Americans, that voicing any objections (especially while being criminally old) would result in my being named a "negative naysayer," and all my input would be stricken from the record, and forevermore ignored. Fun times. [0] https://nighthawknews.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/tintin-destination-goat.jpg https://nighthawknews.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/tintin-des...
whiskeytuesday 3y ago
Username checks out