The Corporate Conundrum: Why Are So Many Drawn to Large Organizations?

Throughout my career journey, I’ve often found myself reflecting on the contrast between working in small companies versus being part of a large corporate environment. For the first eight years of my professional life, I thrived in a small organization with a flat hierarchy—think of a setup with just three layers: CEO, manager, and junior staff. This structure allowed for open communication and a focus on collaboration, values that strongly resonated with me.

However, my recent transition to a Fortune 500 company uncovered a disheartening reality that left me questioning the appeal of such vast organizations. My experiences mirrored what I’ve read on platforms like Reddit: a prevalent atmosphere of toxicity, sabotage among teams, and managers playing a detrimental game of telephone. Witnessing this culture firsthand was starkly at odds with my values.

For nearly a decade, I believed that work was about performance, support, and contribution to a common goal—making the company thrive while fostering a positive team environment. Instead, I found myself in an environment where gossip, scheming, and negative behavior were the norms. My time was often consumed by navigating office politics rather than driving real improvements or supporting my colleagues.

This experience has left me perplexed. What attracts so many people to corporate settings that seem, quite frankly, counterproductive? Is it merely my naivety? Do professionals wake up each day excited to engage in an environment characterized by negativity? I can’t help but feel as though I stepped into an alternate reality where these behaviors are accepted as standard operating procedure.

My time in the corporate world made me question the fundamental reasons behind such practices. Is there a productive rationale that explains why doing things this way leads to corporate success? Or are people simply conditioned to accept this toxic culture because that’s how things have always been done?

I took a leap to leave the corporate world in search of something aligned with my values, perhaps to start my own business where collaboration and integrity take center stage. But I can’t shake my curiosity—what am I missing? What makes this corporate life so alluring that people willingly subject themselves to it for decades?

I invite thoughts and insights on this topic. Is there a hidden benefit or merit to the way large organizations operate that I failed to see? Let’s explore the motivations behind this corporate culture together.