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> Everyone looks really busy though, I guess that’s all that matters anymore.

This is a dangerous tide incoming. I once had a conversation with a new exec as to why a certain team doesn't "look busy". In their mind people are just "coasting" and need to pull up their socks and improve delivery. The concept of being proficient and streamlined about your work simply didn't strike a chord. That place went downhill pretty fast.

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Yeah, I’m already seeing it. Firefighting is rewarded, while actual planning and proactive work that avoids the need to firefight is viewed as lazy and people not doing anything.

People who write code with a lot of bugs end up looking like heroes, because they are always jumping in to fix their breaking code, while someone who takes the time to properly test and write solid code is seen as slow and less capable.

The house of cards just keeps growing, and everyone is on the verge of walking out.

COVID and WFH pumped the volume on this. I had very senior person tell me all about the coasters and slackers.

It was in the bar of a beach hotel at 11AM on a Tuesday, of course. I think he was on two Teams meetings the whole time as well.

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