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Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

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Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#31

Post by arnvald »

I worked at 2 dysfunctional companies and the most valuable thing I learned from it is never to work at dysfunctional company ever again.

I might have a different definition of a dysfunctional place though - for me it's a place that works against me and my productivity, a place where I have to go through a number of hoops in order to do the job I was hired to do. And let me tell you, by the time I made it through all these hoops I was so drained of energy I lost all the passion and will to continue

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#32

Post by MattGaiser »

> People who want to study earthquakes need to go where there are fault lines. People who want to solve hard problems need to go where those problems live.

There is no need for those places to be dysfunctional though. You can go study earthquakes in California or Afghanistan. You aren't any better for it dodging the Taliban though.

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#34

Post by larrymyers »

arnvald wrote: post #31

I worked at 2 dysfunctional companies and the most valuable thing I learned from it is never to work at dysfunctional company ever again. I might have a different definition of a dysfunctional place though - for me it's a place that works against me and my productivity, a place where I have to go through a number of hoops in order to do the job I was hired to do. And let me tell you, by the time I made it through all…

I've worked at many dysfunctional companies, and the most valuable things I learned is that all companies are dysfunctional and you need to find the one where you can thrive despite the dysfunction.

Now, that being said, find a company where your role is valued because it is directly tied to revenue generating activities for the company. Don't be in a support role. (This isn't novel advice.)

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#35

Post by marcosdumay »

franklampard wrote: post #16
travisjungroth wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are at least two types of having problems. There's having a problem like having a jigsaw puzzle. It sits in front of you and is there to solve. Your organization's problem could be making a faster database or improving education outcomes in a neighborhood. An organization can remain functional in the face of these problems. There's another type of having a problem which is like having a cold. It's in you and af…

As an engineer, one would want to solve the first kind but leave the second kind to MBAs

That's their nominal task, and nominally why they make big bucks.

But have you ever witnessed the MBAs solving it? I haven't. So I'd recommend to avoid the organizations with the second kinds of problems, so that you can focus on the first, and not even think about the MBAs.

Or, alternatively, if you manage to find a way to do it, get the task for yourself and make the big bucks.

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#36

Post by marcosdumay »

> The rewards are great if you can survive…

Part of what makes a place dysfunctional is that the rewards have no correlation with performance or impact.

Then there is stuff like this:

> People who want to study earthquakes need to go where there are fault lines. People who want to solve hard problems need to go where those problems live.

Sure, if you want to learn about dysfunctional places, go into them. Learning about them isn't a priority for most people, and if you have a technical profession (not administrative), it would be a hobby at most. So, do you enjoy it there?

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#37

Post by _8j50 »

Survivors bias much? Maybe you come out stronger or maybe you end up pessimistic and bitter for a long time or get burned out. As much of a good advice as "stay in prison, it will make you tougher".

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#38

Post by subpixel »

I read this as long-winded but ultimately good career advice.

In a truly dysfunctional company, you'll burn out and/or become a pariah if you try to tackle foundational, intractable problems. I've worked places with 'emporor's new clothes' level disconnections with reality. You seeing the problems others don't see is irrelevant.

Focus on things you can improve and small changes you can effect, and build up a library of answers to behavioral interview questions. Accept that your efforts will be undone and be focused on your long term goals, which do not include dying on this hill.

> On the other hand, people who have pragmatic and slightly selfish goals in addition to wanting the do good are more resilient. If the system change they envision doesn’t work out, they still have something to show for all their efforts. That keeps them grounded and calm for much longer in the same environment.

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#39

Post by paulcole »

notpachet wrote: post #26
paulcole wrote: post #9

My favorite test of a workplace is to see how closely coworkers map to characters in the film Jurassic Park. The more obvious each casting choice is, the more dysfunctional the workplace.

Are we talking about the dinosaurs themselves?

If those match up with the clients, RUN!

Re: Work Somewhere Dysfunctional

#40

Post by melony »

marcosdumay wrote: post #36

> The rewards are great if you can survive… Part of what makes a place dysfunctional is that the rewards have no correlation with performance or impact. Then there is stuff like this: > People who want to study earthquakes need to go where there are fault lines. People who want to solve hard problems need to go where those problems live. Sure, if you want to learn about dysfunctional places, go into them. Learning ab…

People who study earthquakes also get paid peanuts.
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