The Corporate Conundrum: Why Do People Choose Large Organizations?
As I reflect on my career journey, I find myself questioning a trend that leaves me feeling perplexed: why are so many individuals drawn to large corporations? My recent experience in a Fortune 500 company was nothing short of disheartening, prompting me to delve into this subject more deeply.
For the first eight years of my professional life, I was part of a small organization with a close-knit team of around 200 employees. The structure was remarkably flat, consisting mainly of three layers: the CEO, a manager, and junior staff. This setup fostered an environment where collaboration thrived—I felt valued, seen, and heard.
However, my transition to a massive corporate setting introduced me to an entirely different world. What I encountered was a corporate culture rife with competition, undermining behaviors, and toxic dynamics. It almost seemed like I was living in a “Game of Thrones” scenario, where colleagues engaged in a relentless quest for personal gain, often at the expense of team spirit and shared success. From managers playing the telephone game to individuals actively attempting to sabotage their peers, the environment clashed painfully with my core values, ultimately leading me to resign and pursue entrepreneurship.
During my tenure in the corporate world, I held a long-standing belief: that work should be about mutual support, innovation, and contributing positively to the company’s success. Yet, my observations revealed a stark contrast. Instead of collaborating to propel the company forward, my colleagues appeared focused on gossip, scapegoating others, and strategically withholding crucial information. I frequently found myself at a loss, wondering why our collective time was seldom invested in meaningful productivity or in uplifting one another.
In my exploration of this phenomenon, I came across discussions on platforms like Reddit, where many echoed my sentiments. It seems that my experience of corporate toxicity is indeed a common narrative. But it leaves me wondering: Who is drawn to this environment, and why?
Are there people who genuinely wake up each day and think, “Yes, this is how I want to spend the next 20 to 30 years of my life”? I grappled with this notion throughout my time in corporate, feeling like an outsider in a system that seemed to celebrate behaviors I found perplexing. Is there a hidden logic to the negative dynamics I observed? Could there be a valid reason for this seemingly counterproductive approach to work?
What am I missing? There must be an underlying incentive for this way
