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bluefirebrand 3 days ago

I don't think I've ever worked anywhere that executives are actually capable of taking feedback constructively

In all cases they have eventually just told me to shut up, no matter how diplomatic I try to be, and in some cases it has led to me being terminated

Feedback is just taken as a sign that you aren't aligned with their vision, so you have to go

sensanaty 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Can't upvote this enough, and I live in NL where worker protections make it hard/impossible for them to fire me for stuff like this. I'm a very honest person, so I've never had issues speaking my mind to anyone because I also don't really believe in the whole hierarchy thing.

I have approached management with stats, hard facts and level headed, calm discussions many times. It doesn't make a difference. Execs do not give a shit, unless you're also an exec, and they will pretty much always ignore anything you have to say. If you don't align with whatever idea they have at that moment, you're "not being a team player"

CSSer 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Everyone has an ego. Everyone wants to exercise their power their way when it's their time to shine. I wish I could upvote this twice. If you are reading the above early in your career, please don't take the comment as cynical. It doesn't have to be. Rather, look for it as the sign that you're ready to find your next role. Companies will never clearly give you that. This is often the closest heuristic you'll find, and if you take advantage of it with the right timing, you can leave with grace. If someone asks you why you're leaving, keep it to yourself.

tao_oat 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

out of curiosity, what would it look like to take feedback constructively, but not follow it?

i'm asking because (in my experience) executives get hundreds of pieces of feedback and advice. they can't follow all of it, and so they have to prioritize, and their priorities might not overlap completely with those of ICs.

numeri 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

One sign would be occasionally changing course in response to overwhelming employee feedback. If that never or almost never happens, the feedback is being ignored, not taken constructively and not followed.

bluefirebrand 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> out of curiosity, what would it look like to take feedback constructively, but not follow it

You need to have good reasons

> their priorities might not overlap completely with those of ICs

Then their ICs are fully reasonable to be pissed off

If a company's desires doesn't align with the desires of the workers, then there is a big problem imo