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You are being sarcastic but my experience is that it seems to be the way things are generally done. Company gets an answer they don't like from employees. The

You are being sarcastic but my experience is that it seems to be the way things are generally done. Company gets an answer they don't like from employees. They spend at minimum upwards of six figures on consultants(or millions). The constants provide either no value or set them selves up an income stream at several times what it would have cost to listen to the employees. I think most upper mgmt assumes that if you work for them you are by definition a dumb loser that cannot do "business" I've even seen one time where the consultancy blatantly used it as a foot in the door to steal high value customers to their own businesses. The business owner was warned by his business development director and he blew it off as not understanding how this wall street money stuff works.

jiggawatts 2y ago
Hi. I’m that consultant. Two effects combine to create this reality: 1) Ass-covering. If Important Manager makes a Big Decision based on his own wits, they are risking their own judgement being revealed as less than what is expected from their position. If they can point at a “reputable” outside party, then they can claim that “even expert advice was unable to see this coming, so shouldn’t be expected to either.” They can’t get this kind of protection by listening to subordinates because even if they’re right, they have no reputation. 2) Hunter-gatherer tribe dynamics. We’re barely more than strategically shaved apes in suits, genetically speaking. The last ten thousand years of civilisation is a blip in evolutionary terms and hasn’t changed our behaviour much at all. Big important alpha male leader can’t be seen to accept advice from subordinates! That would not be “leadership” and would undermine their position in the tribe as a trusted elder. This makes all humans in such positions (but especially older men) incredibly resistant to even the most blindingly obvious advice if it comes from someone younger in the same group. External guidance is not subject to the same social constraints and is often accepted. I’ve seen both of these play out over and over, separately and in combination. It’s my job to talk to the junior underlings, collect their complaints, and then present it to their manager so they can have an acceptable source for the same advice. It’s nuts, but it is what is is, and I don’t expect it to change for 50K years or more. Evolution is slow and human nature is wired into us deep.
- AndyNemmity 2y ago
  As a former consultant, you explained it very well. My job was essentially this "talk to the junior underlings, collect their complaints, and then present it to their manager so they can have an acceptable source for the same advice." Although to even start that job, I had to build a connection with them, so they would tell me their complaints. Because they thought I was there to waste their time, instead of actually just presenting their advice.
  - jiggawatts 2y ago
    It’s also common that individual contributors may have good ideas but not the skill to express their views effectively. Many people can’t put together a simple “pros & cons” table or draw a diagram to save their life.

jiggawatts 2y ago

Hi. I’m that consultant. Two effects combine to create this reality: 1) Ass-covering. If Important Manager makes a Big Decision based on his own wits, they are risking their own judgement being revealed as less than what is expected from their position. If they can point at a “reputable” outside party, then they can claim that “even expert advice was unable to see this coming, so shouldn’t be expected to either.” They can’t get this kind of protection by listening to subordinates because even if they’re right, they have no reputation. 2) Hunter-gatherer tribe dynamics. We’re barely more than strategically shaved apes in suits, genetically speaking. The last ten thousand years of civilisation is a blip in evolutionary terms and hasn’t changed our behaviour much at all. Big important alpha male leader can’t be seen to accept advice from subordinates! That would not be “leadership” and would undermine their position in the tribe as a trusted elder. This makes all humans in such positions (but especially older men) incredibly resistant to even the most blindingly obvious advice if it comes from someone younger in the same group. External guidance is not subject to the same social constraints and is often accepted. I’ve seen both of these play out over and over, separately and in combination. It’s my job to talk to the junior underlings, collect their complaints, and then present it to their manager so they can have an acceptable source for the same advice. It’s nuts, but it is what is is, and I don’t expect it to change for 50K years or more. Evolution is slow and human nature is wired into us deep.

AndyNemmity 2y ago
As a former consultant, you explained it very well. My job was essentially this "talk to the junior underlings, collect their complaints, and then present it to their manager so they can have an acceptable source for the same advice." Although to even start that job, I had to build a connection with them, so they would tell me their complaints. Because they thought I was there to waste their time, instead of actually just presenting their advice.
- jiggawatts 2y ago
  It’s also common that individual contributors may have good ideas but not the skill to express their views effectively. Many people can’t put together a simple “pros & cons” table or draw a diagram to save their life.