Quite recently I had an artist come into my office and tell me the sad story of being in a meeting where "suggestions and input" to make the project better was "encouraged."
So he came up with suggestions, and was told his ideas were interesting and "worth thinking about." And two weeks later his producer informed him that his last day would be January 4th. ("Right after the holidays. Because, you know, we don't want to lay you off right at Christmas ...")
This struck a memory button with me. And sure enough, back in April 2006, right here on this blog, I penned this:
My Door Is Always Open
The above is used so often by supervisors/managers/execs that it's beyond being a cliche. But a veteran animation supervisor gave me a new perspective on it this afternoon...
She said that when a lead actually DOES have an "0pen Door" policy, the lead never broadcasts it or talks about it. The open door just IS. The supervisor makes himself available to provide advice...or information...or simple feedback.
The way you know there isn't an open door, free-flow-of-info policy is when the supervisor keeps proclaiming it, over and over...
"I want someone to tell me," Lieutenant Scheisskopf beseeched them all prayerfully. "If any of it is my fault, I want to be told."
"He wants someone to tell him," Clevinger said.
"He wants everyone to keep still, idiot," Yossarian answered.
"Didn't you hear him," Clevinger argued.
"I heard him," Yossarian replied. "I heard him say very loudly and very distinctly that he wants every one of us to keep our mouths shut if we know what's good for us."
"I won't punish you," Lieutenant Scheisskopf swore.
"He says he won't punish me," said Clevinger.
"He'll castrate you," said Yossarian.
-- Joseph Heller, Catch 22
This general theme pops up over and over in my travels. A few examples:
1) I go to a studio exec, tell him about problems and issues that employees have with some of the company's practices. (I'm relaying the complaints because employees have asked me to. Naturally I keep the complainers anonymous.) The studio exec bristles a bit, says to me:
"I tend to question what you say, Steve. Because I've gone around to our artists on different shows and asked if there were problems. Everybody said things were fine."
(Apparently the employees have read "Catch 22".)
2) An employee at one of our fine animation studios relates how a story artist comes up with several great ideas to improve things in an "open meeting" and gets positive reaction ... and then is let go.
3) A tech director comes up to me and says: "We're noticing in the big meetings for the whole division? The ones with all the top execs up on the stage? We're noticing that anybody who stands up and asks a question is laid off two months later ..."
Long ago, one of the best story artists I ever knew, a guy named Pete Young, said to me: "You can't tell them anything until they're ready to hear it. ...". I've thought about Pete's words often over the years, and marvel how true they continue to be. But then, the nature of human beings never changes very much. Most want to better themselves ... and live to tell the tale.
Of course, nobody plays the political game perfectly. There is no "perfect." But there is "better," there is "worse," and there is denial. (How many times have you heard the words "I don't play politics!" Well I'm sorry, but that's bunk. Everybody "plays politics." Just like everybody breathes. If you are interacting with a fellow homo sapien ... or in many cases, even a four-legged critter ... you are "playing politics." You are trying to move your agenda and better your position. That's what politics is.)
And politics, in part, is also the art of survival. Which is what Joseph Heller's Yossarian is practicing up above. So when somebody tells you and others that "we want everyone's input and thoughts ..." tread softly. Because after you provide your thoughts, you don't want the production manager coming into your cubicle and saying:
"Got a minute? ..."
Because the next thing that will happen, when you're sitting in his office and the door is closed, will be the words "Here's your end date. ..." *
* Some will think I'm being too cynical here. Others will think I'm not being cynical enough. What I'm doing is giving you the distillation of a couple hundred conversations and observations. If not more.
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21 comments:
I've been hearing the editor of Steve Jobs' autobiography on the radio lately. Go figure.
He said that Apple execs had a secret prize for who best stood up to Steve. But Jobs knew of it, and often the winner would get rewarded.
There aren't many like him.
Leverage is not someting you are entitled to, you earn it. If you are a stellar artist, you can comment constructively and positively, without much fear of retaliation. If you just got there, and your work is substandard, do not go around "offering" your opinions, especially when they are negatively postured. I would show you your "end date" pretty quickly as well.
Matt Moses
Lighting Director/VFX TD
I want ton add that I never agreed with the "open door" policy with "exceptions". If you are a manager or supervisor or executive and you do NOT want to hear opinions, then do NOT ask for them. I ask for feedback when I really need it, and politely explain that feedback is not "necessary at this stage" when I do not need it.
To the first commenter: You mean the writer (Walter Isaacson), not the editor, and the prize wasn't secret, it was something Jobs participated in. Also, what goes unmentioned is the fates of the employees who talked back to Steve, and weren't still with the company at the year-end party where that award was given out. ;)
It's interesting that Jobs supposedly encouraged people to aggressively talk back to him (and I do believe that at least top employees were able to do just that, at least some times). At the animation company Jobs started, the heads of the company fire you if you suggest a change to the size of the cereal bowls, then they brag about it. Such is the state of our industry that at the top animation studio in the world, you can get fired for contradicting the boss's choice about cereal bowls.
My workplace is an interesting twist on Catch 22. Our head honcho says he has an open door policy... and he really means it. It's the gatekeepers AROUND him who scuttle your efforts to talk to the boss, because you might jeopardize their agendas or complicate their jobs somehow.
No one gets fired for complaining about the size of cereal bowls. That's just silly. Obviously there must have been other issues in play. However I will say this:
1) The cereal at Pixar is free. So are the bowls. Just bring in your own bloody bowl. If you are complaining about this you are an idiot. Therefore you are fired.
2) If you are complaining about the size of cereal bowls then you are complaining about everything else too. Therefore your opinion means nothing, therefore you bring nothing to the workplace, therefore you are fired.
Never be afraid to speak up in an honest, constructive way. If you bring a problem to the attention of your superiors, also bring a potential solution. If you get shot down, let it go. If you get retaliated against, move on, because any company that suppresses honest feedback is doomed to fail.
'Leverage is not someting you are entitled to, you earn it. If you are a stellar artist, you can comment constructively blah blah blah'
can you say NAIVE!!!
Most of the time, its who you make friends with, not how stellar your work is. Seen it with my own eyes....
d
This sounds exactly what day to day nonsense at Dreamworks Animation is like.
A group of the most inept, self righteous, back stabbing Management pricks you will ever run into.
And of course they all smile to your face, and pretend they're your best friend, and you can confide in them. Bullshit.
Its honestly like they went out and intentionally picked people that fit the description you're talking about.
Joe Grant (of Disney in the thirties and nineties) said to me a few years ago:
"Politics in the Hat Building is pretty much the same as at the Hyperion Studio. Just different people."
The dynamics are the same, because human nature is the same.
Our head honcho says he has an open door policy... and he really means it. It's the gatekeepers AROUND him who scuttle your efforts to talk to the boss, because you might jeopardize their agendas or complicate their jobs somehow.
This is true. There have been several times in my career where I feel like "man, if the boss (Lasseter, Katzenberg, take your pick) knew this stupid practice was going on, he'd be incensed," but they almost never hear about it.
with so much politics going on inside the big houses, I am surprised some good work gets done, despite managements and producers trying hard to prevent it.
Of course, it's all in knowing how to "complain." I had a complaint I took directly to Steve Jobs back in 1998, and the boss actually seemed pleased.
As scary as Steve Jobs could be he was nothing compared to Walt Disney. Then again, I was just a kid back then.
"3) A tech director comes up to me and says: "We're noticing in the big meetings for the whole division? The ones with all the top execs up on the stage? We're noticing that anybody who stands up and asks a question is laid off two months later ...""
This is exactly what happened when a Disney Lighter stood up at the company meeting at the El Capitan and asked JL and EC if the presence of Andrew Milstein meant layoffs in the near future. They said no, but of course that questioner was one of the first to go when layoffs were announced a few months later.
No one gets fired for complaining about the size of cereal bowls. That's just silly.
Is it really silly? Then why would Lasseter himself proudly tell the story? What message was he trying to spread to his employees and future employees?
Never be afraid to speak up in an honest, constructive way. If you bring a problem to the attention of your superiors, also bring a potential solution. If you get shot down, let it go. If you get retaliated against, move on, because any company that suppresses honest feedback is doomed to fail.
I cannot believe anyone who has worked in this industry for any number of years could believe such utter nonsense. Then again, I suspect you're in management, or else a young fan.
"...If you get retaliated against, move on, because any company that suppresses honest feedback is doomed to fail...."
Despite your assertion, Disney seems to be succeeding very nicely.
Imageworks actively retaliates against those who fall from favor. The blacklist is no myth, and is openly mentioned by Imageworks management when trying to get rogue members back into the herd mentality.
True that.
Saying sorry hurts? I came across this video which reminded me of your post. If you're going to ask me though, I think saying sorry means that you're brave enough to admit your mistakes. http://youtu.be/-o-OTQXc5pY
Sometimes is best to keep a low profile and stay employed!
d
"Despite your assertion, Disney seems to be succeeding very nicely."
The reason Disney is succeeding is because they're making better films. The reason the films are better is because people are now speaking up, without fear, when they see something that isn't good.
When people weren't speaking up at Disney, the company was in freefall. Maybe that was when you were there?
The reason Disney is succeeding is because they're making better films.
Disney has made one successful film in how many years? And how much of Tangled's success was based on emulating the look and feel of classic 2D films?
What's that got to do with speaking up?
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