[fuzzfactor]

Well, you don't want people to think you are disagreeable, and sometimes the flow is the most important thing so you have to read the room especially carefully then.

If you were really performing above average and they didn't kick you out because they felt they were paying you too much (maybe under financial pressure or couldn't afford it anyway?), it could very well be because your work was intimidating and they need to elevate underperformers who present no competition whatsoever.

When you feel it's too much for the C-suite after all this, it's likely to be true.