Anyone who knows their way around the block at GM understands that the technical side of this company--many of those housed at Pontiac or WTC--is comprised of 2 groups of employees: Those who "DO" and those who "TALK" about what others do. Those who were granted the God-given ability to be very smooth in their talking (and credit-taking) were usually the chosen ones for Level-8 EGM positions. They have enjoyed bloated salaries, use of brand new company vehicles, free fuel, free auto insurance, and higher EVPs. They are the ones who are often celebrated at department meetings and company functions for work that they haven't done. They have received unearned awards that sit on their desk in plain sight for everyone to see. Their minds have been conditioned to believe that they are more intelligent and have done more for GM in their careers than those who they manage. Everyone else knows that these managers could not engineer their way out of a cardboard box despite that golden engineering degree from the 80s or 90s. Today is the day of reckoning for these individuals and payback for all those DO-ERS who have been passed over for promotions all these years due to the good ole boys network, not being a female or minority, or never having a clear route to technical advancement. Today is the day that I feel so fortunate to have obtained a valuable and marketable skill, worked every ounce of overtime that was offered, and saved my money so that an involuntary separation will not destroy my future. Best of luck to the TALK-ERs. I'm just glad that I'm a lowly DO-ER.
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Rumor has it a salaried sick day is planned for Friday Feb 1st at WTC
Unfortunately business is all about relationships.
The doers seem to get lower CAP scores than talkers as well
EGM actually stands for Engineer Group Manager.
EGM = Engineering General Manager
Talkers and Doers exist at all levels. I am a level 8 and earned it so please don't label 'us'. I have also heard for over two years that the company was targeting 8's to get rid of 'us'. That is not much of an incentive to get promoted is it?
There is no doubt there are non-doer 8's, but that exists at all levels. People offline at 4PM, playing ping-pong, or spending 20% of their time at GM "social" employee activities.
I worked my butt off for my promotion and helped build some key foundations in our org. Sounds like you may have been passed over and that is unfortunate.
Valid points. In a true competitive environment, those who DO will, and those who TALK won't. That's the bottom line. Since GM is a non-competitive environment mired in the good-ol-boy system, it as a self-defeating characteristic of increasing returns for levels 8+. Increasing returns reward those who have and punishes those who don't. It eventually creates a disparity gap where good people leave and non-performers stay.
What do EGM and EVP stand for?
This sounds good, but despite all of your efforts, you may be on the chopping block as well
yep, see it all the time, those that talk all day have the right ear of the directors. those that don't are the one's actually doing the work.
Thanks for this post. I agree. Talker vs doer is an excellent way to categorize most at GM.
When you're on the floor, you know who's putting in a solid day and who's not.
Talker or doer, useless or otherwise, I take no pleasure in seeing anyone lose their job. If you want to choose sides, it should be the employees vs corporate nonsense.