Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

news.ycombinator.com

41–50 of 81 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#41
The re-org in which dead wood is shunted off to an out-of-the way planning or strategy assignment.

Extra points for dotted-line reporting to another strategy person. Further extra points if the planning assignment is not funded adequately and/or has no personnel authority.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#44
post #2

At $bigcorp we had a senior vice president continuing his phone calls in the mens room (toilet) at the pissoirs. I can imagine he saw himself doing a power move (I certainly didn't) showing how important or busy he is. He did wash his hands at least.

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson used to take this power move a step further. In one-on-one meetings with members of his staff, he would go into the bathroom attached to his office, start urinating, and then call the staff member into the bathroom to continue the conversation. They would then have to either go into the bathroom and literally watch him relieve himself, or risk offending their boss, who happened to also be the most powerful man in the world.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#45
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't this passive aggresive? Would you do this in real life? I feel like this thinking would breed bad culture and is a short-term win at the expense of a long-term relationship.

"It depends". I've used this when someone is claiming to their boss that we never communicated something, generally in situations where we've been communicating like crazy, but possibly not with them directly , but via emails to the several affected parties. Generally I assume that the person is just forgetting because they are very busy rather than out to get me, but, nevertheless, you have to defend yourself agains…

I generally agree with what you said. Maybe I take issue with the phrasing: "Per my previous email" I feel like it triggers some people. I prefer to try and soften it by saying something along the lines of: "I don't know if you got my previous email (see attached)"

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#46
Being late isn't a power move, it's just makes you look disorganized and disrespectful. This would have 100% the opposite of your intended effect with me.

Real power moves are exercising real power: saying no and being able to back it up, expressing a dissenting opinion, solving problems and providing real value, brining in money, controlling budgets or headcount, threatening to quit because you can/will, leading by organizing people to get something done, articulating a framing for situations that cut through the BS, understand people's motivations and what's actually going on, etc. These moves "take up space," but don't confuse taking up space for power. People with actual power won't.

So get to those meetings on time.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#47
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've done the pareo before on multiple occasions. The cooling factor in 30°+ heat is unrivalled. Easily one of my favourite things to wear at work when the weather's good for it. Probably want to practice putting one on and keeping it secure for a bit first though - don't want it slipping off in front of people! (That would be a different kind of power move.)

How much cooler if you freeball it?

Hard to quantify it but it's far more comfortable due to the soft fabric and lack of friction around the thighs. It's super refreshing not just with the breeze but also because it's like shade for your legs.

It's honestly a shame that it's not socially acceptable (in the West) for men to wear skirts and dresses.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#48
post #20

The classic programmer corporate power move is wearing whatever you want to the office.

Metal/Video Game/Nerd T-shirt + Bermuda short + Espadrille was my main dress code this summer. Skater shoes + cargo pant + hoodies right now. My power move would be to switch to a sirwal (best pant ever!). I may try it. My god level move would be to wear a mundu or a pareo.

A (male) friend used to wear a utilikilt to work from time to time.

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#49
post #2

At $bigcorp we had a senior vice president continuing his phone calls in the mens room (toilet) at the pissoirs. I can imagine he saw himself doing a power move (I certainly didn't) showing how important or busy he is. He did wash his hands at least.

Ha - I've never seen the word pissoir before. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pissoir Although you probably meant "urinal", I'm glad you used this word! Now I know what the things in Paris are called which are a life saver if you have a little kid with you who says they don't need the bathroom while at the hotel and then 10 mins later do need it.

Ah yes, it was a urinal. Source: stood next to him (awkward)

Re: Ask HN: What's your favorite corporate power move?

#50
post #2

At $bigcorp we had a senior vice president continuing his phone calls in the mens room (toilet) at the pissoirs. I can imagine he saw himself doing a power move (I certainly didn't) showing how important or busy he is. He did wash his hands at least.

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson used to take this power move a step further. In one-on-one meetings with members of his staff, he would go into the bathroom attached to his office, start urinating, and then call the staff member into the bathroom to continue the conversation. They would then have to either go into the bathroom and literally watch him relieve himself, or risk offending their boss, who happened to also b…

> They would then have to either go into the bathroom and literally watch him relieve himself, or risk offending their boss, who happened to also be the most powerful man in the world.

Those are the times you politely demur, and when pressed ask the "reducto ad absurdum" question - "Sir, you wish for me to watch you urinate?" Helps if you have a solid poker-face.

Post reply on HN