Question for directors

Oct 10, 2021 11 Comments

Why do directors not fire or give a bad review to toxic or incompetent managers?

It seems to me that managers have much more power over their subordinates compared to directors over their managers..

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 11 Comments
  • Because when you get to that level you realize giving negative feedback is almost never beneficial to yourself and almost never results in what you'd like to see. People like positive feedback and they like people who give it to them. So, out of self-interest, everyone gets good feedback.
    Oct 10, 2021 1
    • So true, universal human nature, nobody likes criticism. criticizing your manager is a nail in the coffin. Better to praise them. Even silence is preferable, there is a de facto culture of fear at all work places.
      Oct 10, 2021
  • IBM
    rLeI77

    Go to company page IBM

    rLeI77
    Manager churn probably more questionable than employee churn
    Oct 10, 2021 0
  • New / HR
    £

    New HR

    £
    As an hr director, I personally have multiple reasons to benefit from what you call a toxic manager.

    1- They are the best in cleaning our shit. To be accurate, they never say “NO” for any extra work we throw at them. That’s why they’re always pressured and they take it out on you.

    2-being moody as a boss just makes things easier and faster. People don’t respond to easy going and kind manager. Or at least they respond at slower rate.
    We dont give much of fucks about quality as much as we do about time.(its market situation: companies wanna get there first, quality of product comes after)

    (EDIT: example all tech companies today are racing for quantum computer but whoever does it first will force other companies to suck his dick. Once its out their best decision will be getting abused buying it for the highest price and join the new race rather than wasting another second in developing their own prototype otherwise they will become bankrupt overnight) not even sure if quantum computer is a thing but just an example

    3-he will keep you busy hating on him rather than you enjoying few free minutes creating mafia groups with other employees

    4-he is really creating miracles in the back scene but nobody gets to see it. Usually related to competitors so its illegal to talk about it. Yes, companies play very dirty and you need a dirty person to defend yourself in the market.

    5-most of them are actually nice and it kills them on a daily basis that they have to be such assholes in the job but its for the best.

    6-they save us from the headache of dealing with low positions because entry-mid level jobs just complain too much and require a lot of attention.
    To us, we see the toxic guy as your babysitter. For this alone we be willing to give him a big fat increment.

    7-we can focus this toxicity at specific person or project to make it fail or to make the person hate his life and leave.

    8-They take bullets for us and they are our soldiers. Directors has spent many years in the same field and they know it all. Sometimes we act greedy and risk it all for the sake of big fat cheque but we get caught and throw managers under the bus to save our reputation (Directors depend on their reputation not on their CV). Don’t get me wrong, it’s all pre-planned, getting caught and thrown is part of the plan and managers know it but ofc they get paid for it.

    (EDIT) 9-All of the above is focused for the benefit of the company and its employees to gain competitive advantage in the market or at least get a bigger market share.

    There is much more but these are most important, I hope it clarifies. Believe me most of them are the sweetest and it literally kills them that they have to be assholes to get things done but its for the best. Those who are 24/7 toxic they have lost their path and got consumed by the character they were supposed to play.
    Oct 12, 2021 3
    • New / HR
      £

      New HR

      £
      For sure there are good folks out there too. But its very rare.

      When a manager is being toxic its best if the employee doesn’t take it personal or try no to be affected. They will be able to see through and have a peace of mind.

      And there are the absolute toxic swamp. In my early days I had a toxic Karen as a GM who hated herself and made workplace hell for everyone. She was super toxic with me but I just didn’t react which made her upset even more. When I ignored her even more she couldn’t stand it and eventually she attempted to throw a stapler at me. That was when I made my move and I didn’t rest until she was behind bars.

      If you have a toxic manager with such personality disorder just wait for the right moment to pick your battle. It wont take long to show.

      But if he is just toxic as “character” then once he is ignored he will not take any further moves against you. He will realise that you figured it out and he will be afraid of you.
      Oct 12, 2021
    • There are cases where that manager is slowly sinking the ship. Got to be careful
      Oct 13, 2021
  • Salesforce
    rationlist

    Go to company page Salesforce

    PRE
    Adobe
    rationlist
    Been there. And faced this shit.

    I interviewed my own manager. He was stupidest person in whole Adobe. But i was forced by my Director to write a good feedback. The candidate lived next door to the director. I wrote. The stupid idiot didn't do anything tangible for two years and you know what - when i raised his incompetence, i got the flak.

    Its not about management helping Managers. Its actually dumb helping dumb to stay relevant. The director turned out to be a total bogus. It can happen amongst ICs as well, tbh. There are people just killing time to hold onto the RSU.

    Culture of competence and rationality is very difficult to hold. Not everyone is cut out for that. Happy to see SF/FB/GOOG taking this forward in a good way, MS also to some extent.

    PS - Avoid cloud engineering/ IT teams in Adbe. Not worth it. Bangalore office.
    Oct 10, 2021 2
    • Forced to wrote good feedback is enough of sign to leave the job.
      Oct 11, 2021
    • Salesforce
      rationlist

      Go to company page Salesforce

      PRE
      Adobe
      rationlist
      I kind of resigned in my mind. But my own referrals were also joining. I was hoping things will evolve in good direction. It did initially, but with time the same idiot manager started developing conflicts with young team members on petty things.. and later with almost every one.
      Oct 11, 2021
  • Walmart
    missy89

    Go to company page Walmart

    missy89
    Because many executives bring their own set of boot lickers n they hide the complaints raised against their favorite boot lickers
    Oct 11, 2021 0