Comments on: The Awkward Absurdity of Corporate Culture http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/ Issues that matter and resources for white collar workers of any profession or employment status. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:44:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Paul. http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-47245 Paul. Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:59:06 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-47245 I am not an American. I have, however, a significant amount of experience working around the world in different organisations and it is refreshing to see that others like me have had the same experience. In addition to the above comments I would like to add that my experience has been one of complete disappointment with the abilities and professionalism of, specifically, CEOs. I have found that politics stems directly from their inability to do their job. So, as they become more and more incompetent the politics climbs and so does the bullying and toadying. My belief is that the average business can be viewed as a large pile of excrement with the biggest, most incompetent maggots at the very top. I feel universities are partly responsible for this as they teach and foster a "way of working" that is at complete odds to actual corporate reality. People are employed based upon their qualifications not on their ability and my experience has been that there is a significatn gap between qualifications and ability. And until this addressed we will always see the scum rise to the top. I am not an American. I have, however, a significant amount of experience working around the world in different organisations and it is refreshing to see that others like me have had the same experience. In addition to the above comments I would like to add that my experience has been one of complete disappointment with the abilities and professionalism of, specifically, CEOs. I have found that politics stems directly from their inability to do their job. So, as they become more and more incompetent the politics climbs and so does the bullying and toadying. My belief is that the average business can be viewed as a large pile of excrement with the biggest, most incompetent maggots at the very top.

I feel universities are partly responsible for this as they teach and foster a “way of working” that is at complete odds to actual corporate reality. People are employed based upon their qualifications not on their ability and my experience has been that there is a significatn gap between qualifications and ability. And until this addressed we will always see the scum rise to the top.

]]> By: pam munro http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-35519 pam munro Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:17:54 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-35519 I grew up with discussions at the dinner table with my executive father talking about the ideocies of his business life. It's no wonder I turned out to be an artiste. But the climate changed even for him at the end of his career then the arrogant MBA know-nothings rose to power. They believed only in short-term profits and spreadsheet numbers and succeeded in driving a very profitable company my father and a colleague had built up from scratch into the ground in less than 5 years! (Because they knew only about crunching numbers, not business!) I think it's a metaphor for our times. I grew up with discussions at the dinner table with my executive father talking about the ideocies of his business life. It’s no wonder I turned out to be an artiste. But the climate changed even for him at the end of his career then the arrogant MBA know-nothings rose to power. They believed only in short-term profits and spreadsheet numbers and succeeded in driving a very profitable company my father and a colleague had built up from scratch into the ground in less than 5 years! (Because they knew only about crunching numbers, not business!) I think it’s a metaphor for our times.

]]> By: marie http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-30068 marie Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:39:26 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-30068 I've worked in corporations most of my life. Yes, I had all of the same complaints. The boring meetings, Friday cookout day, etc. But now I'm in a small Mom/Pop company, and I WISH I were back in corporate America - for all it's faults. I'm dealing with all the corporate BS WITHOUT benefits: decent pay, time off, ins., etc. Every one of you that says you are going to start your own business, Good for You! But eventually, if you're successful, you'll have to hire people. How will you treat your employees? I’ve worked in corporations most of my life. Yes, I had all of the same complaints. The boring meetings, Friday cookout day, etc.

But now I’m in a small Mom/Pop company, and I WISH I were back in corporate America - for all it’s faults.

I’m dealing with all the corporate BS WITHOUT benefits: decent pay, time off, ins., etc.

Every one of you that says you are going to start your own business, Good for You! But eventually, if you’re successful, you’ll have to hire people.

How will you treat your employees?

]]> By: Eldest Son http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-29543 Eldest Son Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:07:27 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-29543 I don't think the original essay overstated the problem. My observation is that corporate culture changed after about 1980. Companies went from working to accomplish something to being clubs of like minds who did work when it fit into the daily schedule and when there was a panic. Many panics were created by bored managers. There were lots of psychopaths in the companies I worked for. I don’t think the original essay overstated the problem. My observation is that corporate culture changed after about 1980. Companies went from working to accomplish something to being clubs of like minds who did work when it fit into the daily schedule and when there was a panic. Many panics were created by bored managers.

There were lots of psychopaths in the companies I worked for.

]]> By: dchavern http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-28807 dchavern Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:35:45 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-28807 Sounds like a bad company that will do poorly over time. It is a good thing you had a choice to leave it -- which most citizens of "high-communism" did not. What you describe has nothing to do with "corporate culture" in America, and everything to do with one company's poor management. Luckily, you have the option of starting your own company and treating your employees how you wish you had been treated. Sounds like a bad company that will do poorly over time. It is a good thing you had a choice to leave it — which most citizens of “high-communism” did not.

What you describe has nothing to do with “corporate culture” in America, and everything to do with one company’s poor management. Luckily, you have the option of starting your own company and treating your employees how you wish you had been treated.

]]> By: Mike http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-28443 Mike Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:13:17 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-28443 Dan, Great post. I am American-born and raised yet I have no clue how to function within today's corporation. As successful as I have been it has mainly been from luck and the graciousness of a few good people I have worked with/around. I know that it is luck that I stumbled into these people and nothing else. The corporations I have worked for and their so-called cultures are in no way linked to my reality. To actually use the word "culture" to describe these strange groupings of people places humanity back about 10,000 years. Put another way, I don't spend one iota of my time being racist, sexist, homophobic, a liar, thief, nor simply trying to deceive others in order to get what I want (not need, but want, a key concept here). Yet I have witnessed these attributes as the daily way of life from CEO on down at these corporations I have worked for. I am working on my own business venture and will be self-employed asap and never look back. Best of luck to you as well..... Dan,

Great post. I am American-born and raised yet I have no clue how to function within today’s corporation. As successful as I have been it has mainly been from luck and the graciousness of a few good people I have worked with/around. I know that it is luck that I stumbled into these people and nothing else.

The corporations I have worked for and their so-called cultures are in no way linked to my reality. To actually use the word “culture” to describe these strange groupings of people places humanity back about 10,000 years. Put another way, I don’t spend one iota of my time being racist, sexist, homophobic, a liar, thief, nor simply trying to deceive others in order to get what I want (not need, but want, a key concept here). Yet I have witnessed these attributes as the daily way of life from CEO on down at these corporations I have worked for.

I am working on my own business venture and will be self-employed asap and never look back. Best of luck to you as well…..

]]> By: Michelle http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-26210 Michelle Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:19:00 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-26210 Daniel, I agree with you whole-heartedly in reference to the corporate culture. One day you are getting praises and bonuses....and the next you are getting backstabbed and "set-up" by those who want to climb "just one more step on the ladder." I'm working on forming my own home-based Commerical Real Estate Company...I've had enough. Thanks for sharing. Daniel,

I agree with you whole-heartedly in reference to the corporate culture. One day you are getting praises and bonuses….and the next you are getting backstabbed and “set-up” by those who want to climb “just one more step on the ladder.” I’m working on forming my own home-based Commerical Real Estate Company…I’ve had enough.

Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: John Swartch http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-26162 John Swartch Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:05:35 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-26162 Years ago, they told me in Aerospace, and I guess in other things also, there are two groups of workers. Those that do all kinds of things and work hard. The other group does not work so hard, but somehow gets by. When things are hot, both groups are in good shape. When things slow down, the first group is in trouble, there is nothing for them to do. The second group is OK, they don't do anything anyway. I spent fourty years in Aerospace, and know it is true!!! Years ago, they told me in Aerospace, and
I guess in other things also, there are two
groups of workers. Those that do all kinds of
things and work hard. The other group does not
work so hard, but somehow gets by. When things
are hot, both groups are in good shape. When
things slow down, the first group is in
trouble, there is nothing for them to do.
The second group is OK, they don’t do anything
anyway. I spent fourty years in Aerospace, and
know it is true!!!

]]> By: Solo http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-25829 Solo Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:26:48 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-25829 All of what you write is true and many of us have experienced the same or worse corporate conditions. However, the chances of finding people you can trust is about the same of winning the lottery. People, at least in this country, no longer have a sense of community be it at home or at work. Neigbors live next door to each other for years and never cross each others thresholds. Colleagues eye each other suspiciously, each vying for the next wrung up on the corporate ladder and each willing to do anything to beat the other guy. It's wrong, it's degrading and it's the way it is. All of what you write is true and many of us have experienced the same or worse corporate conditions.

However, the chances of finding people you can trust is about the same of winning the lottery.

People, at least in this country, no longer have a sense of community be it at home or at work. Neigbors live next door to each other for years and never cross each others thresholds.

Colleagues eye each other suspiciously, each vying for the next wrung up on the corporate ladder and each willing to do anything to beat the other guy.

It’s wrong, it’s degrading and it’s the way it is.

]]> By: Trude http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-25794 Trude Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:28:53 +0000 http://www.unitedprofessionals.org/blog/2007/06/26/the-awkward-absurdity-of-corporate-culture/#comment-25794 Daniel's advice in his last paragraph is sound for every aspect of society. I'd say be skeptical rather than cynical, but the point is nearly the same -- don't "drink the KoolAid" or lose yourself in slavery to somebody else's vision of their dream. Keep your own dreams alive. Work is just a place you have sold 40 hours a week to. If your own dream happens to be one that can turn a profit, start your own company and drink your own KoolAid. Daniel’s advice in his last paragraph is sound for every aspect of society. I’d say be skeptical rather than cynical, but the point is nearly the same — don’t “drink the KoolAid” or lose yourself in slavery to somebody else’s vision of their dream. Keep your own dreams alive. Work is just a place you have sold 40 hours a week to. If your own dream happens to be one that can turn a profit, start your own company and drink your own KoolAid.

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