[benglish11]

So I have similar perspective on authority in my career. Something that has helped me is to stop expecting them to be infallible, to always have the answer, to always be exceptional. This helps to lessen the animosity I feel towards the “incorrect” decisions they make. I agree on the salaries though.

[bluefirebrand]

I appreciate the insight.

I don't tend to think of them as infallible, though. I tend to think of them as morons, who mostly have their positions through nepotism or because they are really good at bullshitting.

I mostly don't really care much, except when they start getting in the way of my success.

A recent example is my CTO demanded everyone in the engineering department watch like 5 hours of keynote speeches from the executive team during a recent convention out company held.

Because their metrics showed that most of the engineers skipped it.

It was a huge waste of time and only served to stroke the egos of a bunch of execs so they could feel important because everyone watched their speeches.

[ipaddr]

You think the CTO is a moron because he wants everyone to hear about what the companies priorities are and how they measure and celebrate success? And they are going to pay you $700 dollars to do it? And you are afraid this will get in the way of your success?

They literally are telling you how they value success. You are getting in your own way when it comes to success if you ignore the message.

[bluefirebrand]

> what the companies priorities are and how they measure and celebrate success?

These sorts of things are better communicated through other channels. There's no need to have everyone attend a speech for this. Nevermind 5 hours of speeches.

You're also assuming a lot about the actual content of these keynotes. They were basically just content-free, "rally the troops" style corporate sludge.

You're right that I'm getting in my own way in terms of success, but it's not because I don't understand the company's mission.

It's because I struggle to fall in line with MBA brainrot.

[deafpolygon]

My approach would have been: I'll watch it on company time. Then just collect my pay.

[bluefirebrand]

That's what I did.

But I'm still going to be held accountable to hit my deadlines and the team did get a talking to for missing our sprint goal despite being asked to do this.

So...

[ipaddr]

A talking to from who? Tell them to reduce the sprint items to match the new schedule leadership requires. Next sprint add in 5 hours buffer to avoid unnecessary surprises. Use the missed deadline as reason. Start taking more control of the sprint goals. Reference this moment as justification.

[bluefirebrand]

At the end of the day none of the stuff you are saying would make a tiny bit of difference because we still have deadlines and we still have to do our best to get everything we are expected to deliver done by those deadlines.

Yeah, it's Not Real Agile. I know.