[fsloth]

"I think most of us are happy to believe that most companies simply have bad leadership"

I don't believe this for a second.

I don't know if this makes me the minority or not though!

It trivializes forces influencing large public companies.

Yes - there can be good and bad leadership - and bad leadership is just bad.

But good leadership can be totally helpless in a public company.

Not recognizing this is a huge gap.

The other forces that incluence a company:

- Board

- Shareholders (via board)

- Banks. Lots of companies have loans. The banks generally have the companies by the balls and can dictate many things when things go south - either due to leaderhip or just prevailing market winds

As an example of shareholder/board direct and rapid influence: an activist purchases shares. Installs board member. Causes rapid change in one or more aspects of business structure or strategy to support _their_ portfolio strategy (of course aligned with interests of other shareholders).

etc.

[mattcwilson]

I think you’re right, however, I think the person you’re replying to may also.

And is shorthanding “everyone without direct experience of the influential power of market forces” into “most of us.”

I think it’s fair to say that the fact that more or most people _don’t_ understand that and _do_ think it’s “all just leadership” explains much of the sentiment about capitalism generally.