Why are there so many people at Nike who are so focused on impressing leadership that they forget to consider how they’re making the people around or below them feel? Or if they lead a team, how they’re failing to show up as good people managers?
No compassion, clear need to be the smartest person in the room, speaking just to speak which leads to inefficient meetings, no desire to support new employees with onboarding.
Whats terrifying is nike promotes based on knowledge, not the ability to manage people and build a strong culture. We need people who lead with compassion, prioritize training and onboarding, effectively resolve conflict, empower others, offer support, take accountability, listen as much as they speak, give credit where it’s due, etc.
Not all long time nike vets are this way, but most of the people I’m describing have been at the company between 15-25 years so I’m seeing a theme. If you’re a tenured employee, please just consider how you’re showing up for people that are your peers or below you. You’re smart, we know. You don’t have to make everyone else feel small to prove it. You can still learn from newcomers, you can still grow, this doesn’t need to be such a fear-based, cutthroat environment.
Be honest with yourself. This is a huge issue with the culture here. And everyone’s afraid to say anything because we’ll have a target on our back if we do. I’m not a soft person, but I value camaraderie, compassion and empathy. And my god is this place lacking it.