Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

Are problems actually being fixed? An EMIT rant.

I work in EMIT. I'm not sure about you, but lately all the posts I'm seeing on LinkedIn especially those by L2, L3, L4 or a person in an entry supervisory position, or even the posts they liked make me think if I'm living in a parallel universe of some sort.

I think there exists a cult worshiped by these people. They adore the vague idea of leadership, as if they were part of the Avengers or Justice League, and those who don't worship it, don't belong in the cult (i.e. not a leader). They think those who actually do the work must be protected by them. Yeah those front-line workers, coders, those too technical people are plebs who need their warm protections, no kidding! You might have heard those words: coaching, mentoring, guiding and so on.

But what's also common among these self proclaimed leaders is they actually don't know the work or hardly if at all. So they're like those kids in Disneyland think they're driving real cars. These leaders think the most important thing is they just need to look good with their car. They just wanna turn their LinkedIn profile into another narcissistic, yet ironically professional version of Instagram. That's cool and fine, except in reality their cars also have people they need to take care of, to protect if you may. However, because they thought they were in Disneyland, these "leaders" are constantly toying with the people they're supposed to lead.

For the past couple years, ask yourself what has actually been better. A vision? More transparent directions for the org? A concrete action plan? Look at what was presented earlier this year - has any of those commitments being achieved? The EMIT forum of the year was just pretty much "Send in the clowns". Instead of reporting where we are in achieving those commitments, we just want to be more "human", have fun and giggles. Instead of being decisive, we're just gonna "Lean In". Sorry, you "leaders" failed miserably, and should be PIPed. Yes maybe that's what EMIT needs most these days:

```
sudo pip uninstall AllCurrentEMITLTs CultOfLeadership Narcissism #apparently you will need sudo
sudo pip install NewRealITLeaders RealITSkills PIPForNoITSkills
```

Of course, that will never happen. But also you want to consider how pathetic the situation is when your "leaders" don't know what sudo is. To me, all the forums and PR stunts so far have been just to fix your perception of the problems, nothing has actually been better. If they're capable of doing just that, I wish you good luck because I'm leaving. The last thing I want to do in my life is to have them, these bottom feeders who think they are leaders, fix my challenging IT problems with their wonderful LinkedIn posts.

Au revoir!

by
| 2831 views | | 14 replies (last December 26, 2021) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1esJUbAl

14 replies (most recent on top)

Sorry but the non core explanation is many times the prime excuse being echoed in the chamber for not taking any sensible IT actions by the EMIT LTs mentioned by the OP. They can lead, and make things better. They can execute a better cloud strategy, dissolve the unhelpful ITRM Na-is, do something about their infrastructure from ice age etc. There are so many things they could and can do now, but the LTs have been choosing to be paralyzed because it's easy to play the victim card of being non core and blame upward. They never look inside, and always seek excuses from outside. Or, maybe they don't know how, incapable of doing anything in IT, but also if they're incompetent, why were they chosen to be "Leaders" in the first place. They should be shameful of their incapability to move the org instead of bragging their fake leadership on various online platforms.

I agree about leaving. If we care about people, we should encourage people to leave. The more, the better. Remember, friends don't let friends follow incompetent leaders. Friends don't let friends be piped by the same incompetent leaders.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2cbe+1esJUbAl

Yes, we are a commodity company which will generate value only through scale and efficiency. It’s regrettable to have Dallas leadership who only know this antiquated commodity biz playbook. Growth opportunities abound and many in em have pointed out these opportunities. But Dallas wears them down or forced them out.

Only hope for growth is external board revolution, and perhaps finding better external partners where we can divest our potential growth bu’s.

Maybe new cfo can bring that idea to the table.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2qwr+1esJUbAl

EMIT is non-core relative to EM products Don’t get me wrong, IT is important it’s just not core. It is a cost center. Because of that, EMIT will often get the leftovers, poor management and cuts. If that troubles you (it should) then set your goals higher and change to an industry where IT is core. I would never join a company in which my work was non-core. What a waste.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @2hsp+1esJUbAl

I am also in EMiT and echo the failed state of management. There have been so many promises made about “we hear you and are going to work to solve the problems” and then not a damn thing happens. Remember the EMIT pulse survey that BK made a “top priority”?! It is no wonder why EMIT employees see only failures of leadership. The truly capable who could lead get beyond frustrated at the empty rhetoric and tired of beating their heads against the unmovable wall of the top managers that they either leave or give up. Those that feel that they cannot leave - thanks to that carrot of retirement health care - are here doing the best they can within their circle of influence and are sadly watching the sh-t show going on around them.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1afk+1esJUbAl

Ask not what the EMIT LT can do for you, ask what you can do for the EMIT LT

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ntd+1esJUbAl

I'm in IT at a neighboring O&G company( ez to guess), would you recommend not joining XOM?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ldd+1esJUbAl

ExxonMobil is a Commodity company run by external consultants.
Once that sinks in, does talking about 'EMIT' mean anything?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1kgo+1esJUbAl

Agree with the rant, but it’s not entirely an issue with the current emit survivors and their desire to create visibility on LinkedIn.

The main problem remains with Dallas board leadership and their resistance to external changes.

Dw and his bros never supported what emit is selling - and this undercuts all their sweat equity to actually transform our businesses before it’s too late.

It’s already too late for most gbus to grow. And further consolidation, off shoring and savings are the only way to optimize remaining assets and dividends for next 5-10 years.

After that? The board is out and it’s someone else’s problem.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ert+1esJUbAl

I think there’s a lot of inability to do their job, but I think also that that is because we are giving them too much responsibility. More decisions should be made by the technical people. We’d have the same problem if you gave all the technical people jobs where they had to manage people and budgets. They’d suck. It needs to be a more collaborative and a more equal separation of responsibilities.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1cob+1esJUbAl

Most of the EMIT leaders I knew where washed up geo and engineering managers. Or some soft discipline. Very few real technical folks as leaders in EMIT. Hence why it is a disfuncitional mess.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @xys+1esJUbAl

Are we talking 'pseudo' or SUMO?
I have to admit, nothing turns me up a knotch like a craggy hindquarter in a loin-cloth.
But EMIT does not exist any more.
It is pseudo.
The clown has left the building in other words.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @iwt+1esJUbAl

Did you set up your pip install to go through Nexus first?

Sincerely,
An EMIT L4 that knows what sudo is

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @lpv+1esJUbAl

Agree with you OP. I am not in EMIT but I believe the EM culture is all about optics.
Fake" leaders" will only create another fake "leaders". I have seen many colleagues who are complaining about EM, but end up liking all the LI posts created by senior managers. They are liking all posts! All in the name of visibility i.e optics!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @dbi+1esJUbAl

I’m in EMIT. On LinkedIn I look at the caliber of people leaving vs the ones that are staying and it’s clear to me how much worse the situation in EMIT will continue to get.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @tjo+1esJUbAl

Post a reply

: