Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Propaganda for the terrified

I watched the first handful of Cisco Beats on Cisco TV. I 've passed on the last two and never plan to watch another one.....ever.

The content is less and less meaningful and the phony hype is increasingly nauseating. Even more troubling is the stream of 'sheeple' continually professing their love a particular person, product or message. It feels like I am watching a Sunday meeting of a religious cult. Almost feels like these folks are commenting just to be seen and to show their love of The Kool-Aid.

Anyone feel the same?

Anyone find these useful?

These 'rah-rah' sessions typical for a company of this size?

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Post ID: @OP+K8hHkAA

19 replies (most recent on top)

@K8hHkAA-3aef: Same package as last quarter. In IT under Rebecca.

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Post ID: @3raa+K8hHkAA

@3zyq - Dr. Doom

Not my problem anymore. Got laid off today and am both happy and relieved.

Care to share the details of the package? Same as the Q1 round? Better/worse?

What group were you in?

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Post ID: @3aef+K8hHkAA

@K8hHkAA-3yss: Smart but also sad that this is what our careers have come to. Visibility and are kissing are a big part of the week.

Not my problem anymore. Got laid off today and am both happy and relieved.

To all who are left and need to sit through a future Beat, good luck.

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Post ID: @3zyq+K8hHkAA

I always accepted the video all-hands and such, set it up, plugged in the headphones, pressed play, and then set the headphones down on the desk and did real work.

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Post ID: @3yss+K8hHkAA

@K8hHkAA-2qar GENIUS - put them in your diary for 'career time'!

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Post ID: @2efw+K8hHkAA

@K8hHkAA-2qar - This is a great idea. I am going to stop deleting these invites and will instead re-purpose this time to "beat" a path to the door. Resume (CV) and LinkedIn updates during this hour from now on until I can get out of here.

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Post ID: @2lei+K8hHkAA

I attended a couple .. it was worth it just to laugh at the side bar chat .. all the "chuck you rock" and "so stoked guys" bull*hit ... found them a complete waste of time.. but they do serve one use.. accept them and leave them in the diary.. and make a point of using the slot to tidy your CV and LinkedIn profile for when you're laid off.. it's the only way these are ever going be useful to you on a personal level that's for sure!!!

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Post ID: @2qar+K8hHkAA

Yes, David Ward is doing good job (and has nice socks and shirts) but I am not sure if he can survive this chaos in Cisco ELT !!

The CFO is another piece of work !!

The ELT missed the point that Beat is an internal meeting not with customer.. it should be with different attitud and message presented including the critical ones..!

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Post ID: @1feq+K8hHkAA

And how much propaganda do we need about what great biz leaders we have. We have an old crony Board that still seems to be a total crony Board for the Chairman. And yet, they keep putting up more stuff about what a great business leader he is.

On Cisco Beats, I may be off, but I thought Dave Ward did a good job. Dedicoat is a piece of work.

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Post ID: @obt+K8hHkAA

The only thing I liked in the last Beat was David Ward's socks..!! Otherwise It is just fake and bla bla!!! Nothing new..Even Dedicoat he is always not sure he loves "I think" if you ask a serious question you will have I answer.. will be just ignored!!!

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Post ID: @eof+K8hHkAA

the ELT kiss each on the cheeks. isn't that considered inappropriate behavior?

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Post ID: @cka+K8hHkAA

For propaganda to be effective, it has to be credible. Big fail there.

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Post ID: @kft+K8hHkAA

Absolutely feel the same - shallow rubbish. The really disturbing thing is when you watch a Beat, and then a little bit later in a smaller circle with the same exec - the story is DRAMATICALLY different. You realise it's just a publicity stunt and any serious professional would just avoid such blatant propaganda. I put it down to the Valley rah-rah and over the top California culture (although 98% not from California).

The atta-boy stuff is interesting. I've a strong suspicious that this typically comes from the diversity empowerment circles. Every time a women speaks on Cisco TV, there are a heap of "go girl" stuff from other (mostly) women in the chat. I've included that that is strongly suggested to "boost" each other in public forums to improve their visibility/success.

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Post ID: @qay+K8hHkAA

I no longer work at Cisco, but something that struck me about the last few Cisco Beats I watched was that there seemed to be an inverse relationship between slick production values and useful content. There were too many flashing lights, and too much music. Too many cringe-worthy "Feel the love!" video puff pieces, and too little useful information. To me, the ELT's 'folksy' arm gestures screamed "media training," not "authenticity." It was...bad.

And authenticity is key. At a time when employees are looking for straight talk, Cisco Beat feels like corporate theater, which does not engender trust or confidence,

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Post ID: @crf+K8hHkAA

You need to make sure you watch the last one.

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Post ID: @cox+K8hHkAA

Does not happen at other companies. And I agree that the tone of it and the chat comments are disturbing. They need to schedule Cisco Beat quarterly (preferably annually) and shut down the live chat.

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Post ID: @eta+K8hHkAA

You are not the only one. They call this "Culture", but it is fake. The old culture was honest, difficult discussion in the open. Long gone.

Many times I laugh a The Beat. Other times, I'm genuinely disturbed. Especially by the rah-rah comments.

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Post ID: @fzc+K8hHkAA

I've never seen it happen at other companies. Didn't Cisco hire actors for one of that event where it showed Cisco employees cheering JC ("I'll be your wingman, Chuck") and Cisco wildly when they handed out the 'Thanks John' T-shirts?

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Post ID: @yrl+K8hHkAA

So correct (:

I wonder also if it happens in other companies

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Post ID: @oit+K8hHkAA

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