4 ms·

Something I've seen countless times is the initial employees complaining that the company "is not what it used to be" when it grows to a certain level and, in m

Something I've seen countless times is the initial employees complaining that the company "is not what it used to be" when it grows to a certain level and, in my experience, they refuse to adapt and leave or are fired.

OJFord 3y ago
Was the company/leadership simultaneously talking about how it intended to grow but retain its 'culture' or whatever though?
- gtirloni 3y ago
  Why you ask? I'm not saying the employees were wrong to think/do whatever they thought/did.
  - OJFord 3y ago
    I thought you were implying it's a failing of grouchy employees ('refuse to adapt') - I just think that might be sometimes hypocritical as companies love to talk about their culture etc., if you change what that is (and previously talked about it) then you should expect some negative reaction to it, and if you don't (or talk about how you're keeping it the same) then it seems unfair to criticise someone saying it's changed or not liking that. (Personally I think I'd rather companies uncultured/not talking about it, but if they do it should make sense and be consistent with actions.)
    - gtirloni 3y ago
      Sorry, I should have been clearer. I was replying to the point where OP says companies end up hiring externally when they grow and need new layers/functions. Most of the time (in my experience), it's not that employees want to take those new jobs but upper management fails to promote them and more that the company is becoming something they don't like (which makes sense, otherwise they wouldn't have joined a startup if they prefer big corps)... and they don't want to adapt. It's all perfectly fine, IMHO. People move on. Companies move on. Some people will adapt (because they like the new reality, or they need to like it, or..) and others won't. And by adapting I'm not saying become "better" but different only. I think the worst case is when both parties don't realize it and don't take action. Then you get upper management hiring externally, saying the employees that helped the company grow are bad employees, etc. And the initial employees saying upper management is clueless, sold out, lost their way, betrayed the culture, etc.
throwawaythekey 3y ago
I've become that person. In small teams a lot of magic happens and the feeling is somewhat addictive. I don't think it's wrong to long for times when the company had more output, at a higher quality, while using fewer resources. The past will never repeat itself but it seems meek to not attempt to preserve the good parts.

OJFord 3y ago

Was the company/leadership simultaneously talking about how it intended to grow but retain its 'culture' or whatever though?

gtirloni 3y ago
Why you ask? I'm not saying the employees were wrong to think/do whatever they thought/did.
- OJFord 3y ago
  I thought you were implying it's a failing of grouchy employees ('refuse to adapt') - I just think that might be sometimes hypocritical as companies love to talk about their culture etc., if you change what that is (and previously talked about it) then you should expect some negative reaction to it, and if you don't (or talk about how you're keeping it the same) then it seems unfair to criticise someone saying it's changed or not liking that. (Personally I think I'd rather companies uncultured/not talking about it, but if they do it should make sense and be consistent with actions.)
  - gtirloni 3y ago
    Sorry, I should have been clearer. I was replying to the point where OP says companies end up hiring externally when they grow and need new layers/functions. Most of the time (in my experience), it's not that employees want to take those new jobs but upper management fails to promote them and more that the company is becoming something they don't like (which makes sense, otherwise they wouldn't have joined a startup if they prefer big corps)... and they don't want to adapt. It's all perfectly fine, IMHO. People move on. Companies move on. Some people will adapt (because they like the new reality, or they need to like it, or..) and others won't. And by adapting I'm not saying become "better" but different only. I think the worst case is when both parties don't realize it and don't take action. Then you get upper management hiring externally, saying the employees that helped the company grow are bad employees, etc. And the initial employees saying upper management is clueless, sold out, lost their way, betrayed the culture, etc.

throwawaythekey 3y ago

I've become that person. In small teams a lot of magic happens and the feeling is somewhat addictive. I don't think it's wrong to long for times when the company had more output, at a higher quality, while using fewer resources. The past will never repeat itself but it seems meek to not attempt to preserve the good parts.