> The truth of the matter I think is that you do not actually need the best.

Not all employees need to be the "best". But if you are a top tier company in a given field like Microsoft, you need the best minds to stay top tier, otherwise you will descend. But on the other hand you don't need the lower tier performers to stay top tier except for scaling reasons because the supply for top tier performers is a very small pool...

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hypfer 3 hours ago | parent [-]

You can still keep some of the best minds, but you do not need them on every team and every project.

I might be wrong, but I doubt that these mass buyouts were also offered to those that are strategically relevant. Though I guess that can happen if that specific branch of the management tree is bad at their jobs

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siva7 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Other ways are to offer "secret" bonuses and perks to the talent you want to keep. If the management / department wants to keep you no matter what, you will clearly notice this despite mass layoffs.

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geodel 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think you are right. Besides this "Best" category is also fluid. Best of 2000's is not best in 2020s for a business.

This also works as price discovery mechanism for both parties. Best employee can take a break and apply later for different job, profile, growth industry etc. Companies also find better to hire what they think best at market price instead of honorary best which are there for long time.

	▲	namrog84 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The last ms team I was on before I quit changed quite a few over the years as the business and requirements changed. I learned a lot about what I enjoy and where I thrive. Where I had done well for a few years the business had become something that was better suited for others. It was best for me and the team that I left and they find someone better suited for the current and future work. Even now with agentic work there are areas I am able to do well and some areas im not. It's definitely always changing.

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izacus 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

You sound like you don't really know much about teams and leadership.

Getting rid of your best means you'll also make sure that the rest of them slowly, but surely leave and never come back. Good people will not work with average people which results in long term failure to compete for the company.

There's a reason why all tech industry leaders have focused on getting a *consistent* and *even* pool of good workers to establish themselves there (against wisdom of the MBA crowd you're repeating here).

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hypfer 2 hours ago | parent [-]

It is detracting from the conversation to dismiss people like this just because they say something you do not personally agree with.

Or rather because they share observations about the world you might not like.

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izacus 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I'm not dismissing people, I'm dismissing your poorly thought out opinion.

This is what a discussion is - and besides me not liking it, it's also flawed and dismissive of people.

	▲	hypfer 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		U-huh. I don't think that what you're doing here is warranted or correct. Having checked your CV, I can see why you're probably doing it, but that's still.. not great. Maybe you should've also checked mine before running with these strong opinions.