You put in the hours, push through all the chaos, and then someone who barely showed up swoops in for the credit. If you're not part of the little inner circle, you're nothing. Speak up and you're labeled difficult. So you shut up, do the work, and wonder how long before it breaks you. I've learned to hate Cisco in the last few years.
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My original manager, who retired as an EVP, refused to have a 'comms manager' and for the majority of their tenure was fiscally prudent to an extreme -- i.e. didn't participate in the rampant 'VP/title inflation' pervading the company from about 2009 on. Eventually they had no choice as it was damaging the organization comparatively, and we just became like all the rest. More money in the end but oddly less job satisfaction as seemingly random director/VP/SVP promos became rampant and divorced from generating recognizable business value. It was a good run while it lasted --but no relationship to the bizarre reality of Cisco today.
Don't worry, all of the micromanagers will be replaced by AI. RTP has waaaaay too many of them that think managing by spreadsheet is a novel idea in 2025.
Handing over the messaging of your work product output and deliverables, to an inept clown, to then use in their own communication collateral, to other stakeholders; it the kiss of death at Cisco. Never get manipulated into reporting your projects and work product, to some fool, who then uses your good work to make themselves look better.
I have seen this time and time again at this Company. Usually the "Comms Manager" is some person who can perhaps do good powerpoints, but otherwise could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag on their own. Keep away from them and do not buy into their framework. They add no value expect for building a good slide deck, for the overall team "manager" to then pitch their baloney to other leaders up the chain. So many people up the chain at Cisco that should not be there. If they can't do the work themselves, they need to move on. Instead, they are somehow empowered to control the future of others that truly do the real work.
I've seen several examples here in RTP where the "Comms Manager"; (aka the minion who does little except create power points for their Director level overall team manager; eventually get LR'd, and then not be able to find crud. One has not found a job for a year. Stupidly, they own a very expensive home, which has been sold, guess their Powerpoint skills don't resonate much anywhere else but Cisco. Perhaps they can work the counter at McDonalds. She deserves it, she wrecked a good team by first recommending the list of Engineers to LR over the past three years. Couldn't happen to a nicer person.
speak Tamil
won't help you.. you need to be indian higher class vegan .. marry Indian vegan ..
"speak up and you will land on the LR list as I saw this in the last 2 rounds."
That is why I got laid off but I do not regret it. It is very unhealthy to absorb all the corruption and abuse but say nothing because you're so scared of losing your job.
Learn to speak Tamil my boss will take and promote you Sar
LOL. I have been working with my manager & favourite employee since few years. favourite employee has doubts runs across team members & unnecessary laughs on daily meetings with average performance but who get every perks, every assignment & every career progression FIRST. Any Guesses- Fav Employee. Bingo
speak up and you will land on the LR list
sorry but who are the adults who really believe "change happens from the bottom up"? do you also believe in the tooth fairy and santa?
unless you are a newgrad, you should have figured out this truth: if the boss doesn't care, you shouldn't care
Put down the chips, get off your couch and get into the office. You may lose 5-10 lbs too.
speak up and you will land on the LR list as I saw this in the last 2 rounds.
“Speak up and you’re labeled difficult”
^THIS^ alllllllllll day long!
Just don’t jump to do the work. Let them fell the heat, let them escalate so leadership sees it. Then only deliver. They know you now as a go to guy.
That inner circle will take your work, grab all the credit, and then eventually push you to LR. That’s how they survive, covering each other’s backs and sc--wing everyone else.
You put in the hours, push through all the chaos
why did you do this? this is where you failed
you will learn eventually
You must be working in SBG!!!
Standard across the board at Disco . People who actually do the work don’t get credit but the ones who just talk and talk , rub shoulders with the boss survive and actually get promoted . Not to forget the high fives and passing gift cards from boss to employee and employee to boss in the name of recognition .Get out while you still can and save sanity
@aw this 100% ... especially from non-US team members.
This isn't unique to Cisco. It happens anywhere group/shared work is involved.
It also only happens to people who aren't assertive and refuse to stand up for themselves. First time, sure, blame the person who took the credit....2nd time and every time after that, that's on you.
I helped a guy solve a problem and gave him a lesson about said technology. Day later guy claimed everything I said and presented it as their own and claimed themselves. Now everyone goes to that guy and he can’t even answer worth a damn.
It is because of the "Comms Manager".
Send me your slides, and I will incorporate them into the master slide deck for our manager to use when he presents our entire team's projects to other stakeholders.
Thanks!
At Cisco, "Comms" is not an abbreviation for Communications, it is instead the shortened abbreviation of Communism. It is a team effort. You do the work. We handle the messaging.