Comment by ryeguy_24
2 years ago
If you don’t own your company, you are always measured on optics. If the person who employs you does not optically see your value, you don’t stand a chance working there. If employment is the measurement, optics will always be important. For those who disagree, I would argue they are arguing on what would be ideal. Sure, it would be ideal to have a fully meritocratic performance system but if someone else is in charge of your employment or performance evaluation, your success is 100% based on their opinion of you. How do they get that opinion? It’s the optics whether valuable for the company or not.
Just to be clear, I’m not talking about programming skill or value. I’m talking about employment and evaluations which I think most people are commenting on.
And also, it’s not mutually exclusive. I know many people who are very productive and also manage their optics well.
Even when you do own the company, you are still measured on optics by your customers.
Really good point. Shouldn’t have included that conditional statement.