General Motors

Great people in general all want to do a good job. Good pay and benefits, even after some reductions.

Depressing atmosphere, low employee morale. A lot of pressure on employees that is not productive. May start losing the best, hard-working people. Individual mid-level executives can be brutal to people, without any place for employees to turn to for help. HR is not helpful to employees due to overwork and no clout. People end up working 10 or more hours a day, with no extra pay or recognition and no end in sight. Too much politics in middle and upper management, with not enough accountability for them. Their actions aren't necessarily done for the best of the company or the employees.

Middle-level executives are too political and selfish about their careers (lower unclassified). They are not held accountable, partly due to some moving too quickly through jobs. Simplify the metrics and make them the focus. Value your hardworking & honest employees; be suspicious of the "yes" people telling you what you want to hear. Surround yourself with people who will be honest and not afraid to speak up; encourage it. Leadership needs to get closer to the employees – not the required diagonal slice meetings, but much smaller, less formal get-togethers. Have individuals in the trenches that you can depend on to give you the honest pulse of the organization. Your people are the most important part of the company, and don't forget that.