[dougmwne]

Bingo. People who lead companies are not wired like the rest of us. It's not some bullshit about mission or impact. Executives are there for power. Power is the sweat under a subordinate's arms when you address them. Power is having control over the bodies of others when you tell them where to be, how long to be there, where to sit and how to dress. Power is having roomfuls of people in rapt attention to you. Power is giving orders and making decisions, then watching them be physically carried out. Power is getting sex from your subordinates. Power is seeing the people who have subordinated themselves to you and their daily performance of that subordination.

Even if moon robots could do all our work for us, some people would find a way to make the rest of us submit. Nothing can replace physical proximity. Without it, you feel like a loser in your bathrobe instead of master of your universe.

Don't believe the bullshit about WFH and automation fueled idle. It's counter to human nature. We organize our workplaces, education system and society not for maximum efficiency but to satisfy the primate hierarchical social instinct.

[dannyw]

I have worked in tech a while, including knowing a number of executives (prior and post them being executives), and I don't know a single one who is 'in it for the power' and feeling good because they can tell employees where to sit and how to dress (or getting sex from subordinates!).

They're in it because they love making big impacts, having authority to make _big_ decisions, not watching people sit down in chairs.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I am worried about where you work. What you are describing is not normal.

[dougmwne]

You are lucky! I was lucky for awhile, until I wasn't.

[population293]

Ignorance is bliss

[Tronno]

I don't think what you are describing is a normal work environment. I have experienced something similar though - and it sounds like you work with sociopaths.

If that's the case, the classic advice is to disengage and find another job as soon as possible. Staying will not be healthy for your mind. Good luck.

[futureshock]

I'm out of there now and working with a much better team. Unfortunately positions of power magneticly attract sociopaths, so it's not an uncommon situation, especially as the companies get larger. I've found the best measure of an organization's empathy is the owner or CEO themselves.