- GROWTH: Constant demand from top leadership for huge sales growth and ROI without the resources and project approvals needed to make a dent, let alone real impact. This isn’t a lean approach, it’s starving.
- FORECASTING: Frequent and “creative” forecasting by departments to meet senior leadership expectations of high revenue. When reality catches up and sales don’t measure up, executives resort to sudden and massive layoffs under the excuse of restructuring. More work for less pay if you are lucky enough to keep your job.
- SALARIES: Below average salaries with no room for negotiation. They will try to justify lower salary with a vague quarterly bonus. In practice no one including supervisors can actually explain how the bonus is calculated. The goals to get the bonus are unattainable, not ambitious.
- HOT POTATO: Department heads are afraid of blame that the company is unable to measure up to competitors like Amazon or failure to meet the top leaders’ shifting demands for increasing sales and margin. CYA culture trickles down to their teams. Too many meetings to justify that something is being done when not much can be done.
- TECH: Platform is outdated and hard to use for both staff and partners. No investment or openness to a much needed overhaul.
- HUMAN RESOURCES: HR gives free swag but not effective in solving issues. Simple things take a while to be fixed. This is a paycheck, not a career unless you say what leaders want to hear.
- PEOPLE: Management should stop treating employees like they are disposable. They ought to be willing to see and hear the truth. The ought to provide tools and personnel to meet your goals.