I've also worked in the UK, and that was my takeaway too.
In the UK there is this "pessimistic honesty" whereas in the US everyone tries to maintain a positive veneer, even when things are going south and letting more people in could help.
I find the "looks over substance" thing makes management in the US categorically worse from both ends, but obviously a pessimistic outlook has its limitations/problems too (particularly when things are going well).
But the older I get, the more I see that most management decisions aren't based on facts/logic/reason, and instead most people just shoot from the hip and then figure out facts/logic/reason that fit whatever decision they were going to make anyway (or "Confirmation Bias" as they call it).
For example late last year the CEO decided Telecommuting was banned. Why? They themselves don't know and or cannot articulate it. Something about productivity/communications? They read an article? Then COVID happened, and they had to re-spin which made similarly as little sense. Now they're re-spinning again to get everyone back in the office/re-ban telecommuting, all with little justification or explanation.
In the UK there is this "pessimistic honesty" whereas in the US everyone tries to maintain a positive veneer, even when things are going south and letting more people in could help.
I find the "looks over substance" thing makes management in the US categorically worse from both ends, but obviously a pessimistic outlook has its limitations/problems too (particularly when things are going well).
But the older I get, the more I see that most management decisions aren't based on facts/logic/reason, and instead most people just shoot from the hip and then figure out facts/logic/reason that fit whatever decision they were going to make anyway (or "Confirmation Bias" as they call it).
For example late last year the CEO decided Telecommuting was banned. Why? They themselves don't know and or cannot articulate it. Something about productivity/communications? They read an article? Then COVID happened, and they had to re-spin which made similarly as little sense. Now they're re-spinning again to get everyone back in the office/re-ban telecommuting, all with little justification or explanation.