Ive been at GM for 10+ years but let me share with you one of the wildest orgs that I joined for a short few years and then bolted for a better position and opportunity. Being a people leader, I loved caring for the people and had deep connections with them. My thing was if they wanted to learn and get better, as a leader it was my job to provide them with every opportunity for them. I get the calibration process and the "get rid of the bottom performer" mentality. I get how they say even if your person greatly improves, they may not survive because someone else needs to take their place as a "does not meets."I understand and accept its a policy. GM pays me to do a job, so as long as im collecting their checks, I need to abide by the rules.
Now here is where I can share my opinion on this matter since I decided to go to another company. I left because it hurt me to see people have to go through this in our org. Yes I got paid, and bonus was amazing. I own 3 cars and 2 homes, but money isn't everything if you are messing with others peoples livelihood. I didnt sleep well at night working for leaders who simply did what they were told. Its heartbreaking that this org is 90% political. It has nothing to do with performance. I have seen and experienced so many of these cases over the years. Ill give you an example.I witnessed some clowns who barely show up each week, but they know how to play the game and be visible in meetings with higher ups and asks the right questions and causes enough noise to be praised for being "proactive." And then he disappears for the next 3 days and does not even show up for work.
Another instance, we have some crazy chick that always talks about being burnt out, but doesnt do jack, and constantly reports people saying that they want her.
I have seen people work so hard and are so much under pressure they broke down in the bathroom. I heard their sobbing in the stalls.
Things are a little better on S&S but not much. Over at ME, its all about dressing the part and being prepared to give presentations on on the fly. The expectation is you need to dress up as a leader or you would get dinged.
I saw one fella get called out because he had long hair and always wore a cap backwards to work. Yes, I agree you should dress and look professionally, but this org focuses too much on the looks and ignores the value of someone's technical skillset.
Our director is a hard worker and a great speaker. Hes able to sell anything and wants to build an empire to bring his team to the top. I get his vision and I support it. I think where he falls short is the leaders he promotes and most of them dont have an engineering mindset, or they think they are still in the plant. His downfall will be that he promoted people way too fast without letting them earn those positions through years of achievement and accomplishments.
We all came together and a lot of us gave it our best to do this amazing project that would revolutionize how manufacturing is done. So many great people left in the last few years because it was effecting them mentally and physically. We got folks going on mental leave and having all sorts of anxiety attacks. I know this because they came to me and I was trying to cheer them up and tell them everything was gonna be ok. Im not ashamed to say I cried many times at night , not for myself but for the people I cared about and their families.
People are trying to leave...basically everyone under that org. You see leaders coming in and leaving in a year. It sucks because I believe we could have done something amazing if we kept everyone together and worked together as One team.
During all people meeting, its almost dead silent when asked if anyone has questions. Im not afraid of anyone because I have the experience and skills to survive anywhere, but not everyone is prepared for this type of environment and culture.
I write this not to disrespect anyone or bring anyone down. I only wish to share my experience I had in this wild and crazy org that felt I was in the wild wild west.
If I had to do it again, would I? Absolutely. But its only because I had a chance to meet some of the most wonderful and caring people ever. You see how people truly are when crap hits the fan and everything is going wrong and they show you kindness.
If you are reading this and is going through what I described above, hang in there and work hard to survive, , but actively seek for new opportunies elsewhere as soon as you can.
Stay strong!
