3 ms·

> Often that person's leadership wasn't the problem, but even when it was, that doesn't necessarily mean that the company will be better-off without them How c

> Often that person's leadership wasn't the problem, but even when it was, that doesn't necessarily mean that the company will be better-off without them How convenient (for them)! When the company is doing well, they get millions in bonuses because their irreplaceable leadership skills - which make them 2000x more valuable than the least paid worker - were instrumental to the organization's success. When the chips are down, it wasn't their fault per se, and the company still would be allegedly worse off without them, so laying-off waves of those who don't have decision-making power is the correct remedy, until the good times roll again, and senior leadership is ready to claim responsibility. It must be nice to claim "macro-economic headwinds" as justification for poor performance and poor planning, but still get paid bonuses for the never-mentioned "macro-economic tailwinds"

flappyeagle 2y ago
Go start a company already — you’re on YC forums
- sangnoir 2y ago
  I have started a company[1], but that's neither here nor there. I vehemently disagree with your insinuation that I couldn't challenge leadership culture had I not. Founding a company doesn't make one infallible or irreplaceable. Though to be fair, it doesn't feel that way when it's your company though! 1. I will note that this is an incredibly low bar.
  - flappyeagle 2y ago
    You want to be the boss. Start a company. You want someone else to control your employment, work for someone else. It’s simple.
- johnnyanmac 2y ago
  1. This really shouldn't be advice handily thrown out like "learn how to play guitar". You gotta spend money to make money, and if you're laid off without a plan this is the worst time to spend money. 2. I plan to one day. I very much plan not to rely on a VC for that. The purpose for my company is to not require millions to ship products users want/need and to stay extremely lean. A small team of "full stack" developers, to put it roughly. I should already be in a very solid position by myself before I come to such a crossroad. 3. I will admit I am not this "full stack" dev yet. I will still need some months/years to get to this point myself. So I'm a "student" as of now.
  - flappyeagle 2y ago
    No one is ready. You become ready by just doing it
    - johnnyanmac 2y ago
      I agree with you in spirit. In reality, the "I quit my cushy 9-5 job to make my own game" is such a meme in my industry that I want to have a plan B and C for if/when I fail. And right now I barely have a Plan A.
JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> must be nice to claim "macro-economic headwinds" as justification for poor performance and poor planning, but still get paid bonuses for the never-mentioned "macro-economic tailwinds" What would you do if you owned a business? Fire leadership every time they make a wrong call? Or ban them from admitting they made a wrong call?
- sangnoir 2y ago
  If I owned a controlling stake in a business, I'd fire the leadership every time there's evidence of short-term thinking. The problem with public companies is systemic: a large fraction of shareholders want short term appreciation, and so they support and reward short-term mindsets in leaders at the cost of long-term value.
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > I'd fire the leadership every time there's evidence of short-term thinking Have you owned a business? Worked for a manager who thought like this? You’re describing the sort of mercurial boss who fires people for disagreeing with them.
    - sangnoir 2y ago
      There's nothing mercurial about firing someone over poor strategic planning. Before you hire someone, you communicate the expectations of the job, amd if an executive prioritizes quick ones over long term big wins, that is a fundamental misalignment in values - not a spur-of-the-moment dismissal.
      - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
        > Before you hire someone, you communicate the expectations of the job, amd if an executive prioritizes quick ones over long term big wins, that is a fundamental misalignment in values Right, this is micromanaging leadership. You're looking for a manager to execute your vision. Not a leader. Short termism is a problem. But layoffs aren't proof of short-term thinking. If anything, they're a sign of past exuberant optimism.

flappyeagle 2y ago

Go start a company already — you’re on YC forums

sangnoir 2y ago
I have started a company[1], but that's neither here nor there. I vehemently disagree with your insinuation that I couldn't challenge leadership culture had I not. Founding a company doesn't make one infallible or irreplaceable. Though to be fair, it doesn't feel that way when it's your company though! 1. I will note that this is an incredibly low bar.
- flappyeagle 2y ago
  You want to be the boss. Start a company. You want someone else to control your employment, work for someone else. It’s simple.
johnnyanmac 2y ago
1. This really shouldn't be advice handily thrown out like "learn how to play guitar". You gotta spend money to make money, and if you're laid off without a plan this is the worst time to spend money. 2. I plan to one day. I very much plan not to rely on a VC for that. The purpose for my company is to not require millions to ship products users want/need and to stay extremely lean. A small team of "full stack" developers, to put it roughly. I should already be in a very solid position by myself before I come to such a crossroad. 3. I will admit I am not this "full stack" dev yet. I will still need some months/years to get to this point myself. So I'm a "student" as of now.
- flappyeagle 2y ago
  No one is ready. You become ready by just doing it
  - johnnyanmac 2y ago
    I agree with you in spirit. In reality, the "I quit my cushy 9-5 job to make my own game" is such a meme in my industry that I want to have a plan B and C for if/when I fail. And right now I barely have a Plan A.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago

> must be nice to claim "macro-economic headwinds" as justification for poor performance and poor planning, but still get paid bonuses for the never-mentioned "macro-economic tailwinds" What would you do if you owned a business? Fire leadership every time they make a wrong call? Or ban them from admitting they made a wrong call?

sangnoir 2y ago
If I owned a controlling stake in a business, I'd fire the leadership every time there's evidence of short-term thinking. The problem with public companies is systemic: a large fraction of shareholders want short term appreciation, and so they support and reward short-term mindsets in leaders at the cost of long-term value.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > I'd fire the leadership every time there's evidence of short-term thinking Have you owned a business? Worked for a manager who thought like this? You’re describing the sort of mercurial boss who fires people for disagreeing with them.
  - sangnoir 2y ago
    There's nothing mercurial about firing someone over poor strategic planning. Before you hire someone, you communicate the expectations of the job, amd if an executive prioritizes quick ones over long term big wins, that is a fundamental misalignment in values - not a spur-of-the-moment dismissal.
    - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
      > Before you hire someone, you communicate the expectations of the job, amd if an executive prioritizes quick ones over long term big wins, that is a fundamental misalignment in values Right, this is micromanaging leadership. You're looking for a manager to execute your vision. Not a leader. Short termism is a problem. But layoffs aren't proof of short-term thinking. If anything, they're a sign of past exuberant optimism.