At my current company there is no sense of checks and balances. Execs are incompetent/absent (there is currently no CTO, CFO, COO, Chief people officer or chief revenue officer). Directors can’t set deadlines and lack vision. Managers don’t contribute at all (all managers are purely people managers) and micromanage, blaming ICs and adding BS hoops to safeguard promotions in times of budget cuts. Our stock says it all (never mind that thru blind we found out we were all being underpaid). I don’t know anyone who isn’t actively interviewing (except parents, immigrants, people who haven’t vested 1 yr yet). The culture is incredibly toxic and the Glassdoor reviews are outdated/fabricated by the comms team. We feel stuck. Help us, any advice would be appreciated.
Is this issue in Product, Engineering or across the board?
Across the board! Prod, eng, HR, finance, strategy, marketing, you name it...
I mean, we hired a new Chief Product Officer but he’s too new. We have no CTO or CFO or COO so you can guess how strong the vision is for everyone. The new Chief people officer was reeeeally bad so almost all of HR quit because he sucked and then he was fired.
The shareholders, who are typically represented by the board of directors, are the ones who hold the CEO(s) accountable. The CEO then keeps the rest of the CxOs in line, and it's supposed to trickle down from there. If the board is absent then there is no accountability for the CEO, who may then also be absent from keeping the other CxOs in check. If you are genuinely concerned, you can try to contact members of the board to express your concerns. But obviously, this is extremely risky. It is much easier and safer on your reputation and legal standing to just leave for greener pastures.
Thank you for that insight — I never even knew about the role of the board. It’s bizarre they are ok with so many C suite vacancies...makes me question the board frankly. I feel for people who can’t leave right away (eg parents and immigrants). What can they do?
Same as everyone else. File for unemployment or move back to country of origin where they can do that, I guess
1. Put on your hardhat 2. Ask to speak to your management for a moment. 3. Politely yet firmly tell them exactly what you are saying. 4. If they dont like it, what are they going to do to you they already haven't? Remember it is easy to fear backlash, but if they get too pushy, remember this is YOUR time as well as all your coworkers on the line. 5. Collect your hero badge for either having attempted to fix the situation, or having done so successfully.
You sound experienced! Hope you didn’t have to go thru anything similar. I appreciate the stepwise advice. I will share this with those of us who have put in their 2 week notice. Thank you
Literally did this 3 times in my career back when I was in Sales. Think about it this way, they are attempting to ruin your resume and/or portfolio by creating the need to quit. What happens if you get 5 companies in a row like this? Overpromising and under delivering happens ALL THE TIME. Thanks 2019
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Im with ya! I feel bad for the rest of my team (ie the parents and immigrants who need $$ or visa sponsorship)
Tell them to leave too. Bad management can seriously make life miserable.