My former CEO won a “Most Admired CEO” award, so I left a fitting LinkedIn comment. They deleted it.

This is a goofpost, but it gave me a good laugh.

I saw my former company celebrating their CEO for being named one of the “Most Admired CEOs” in the industry by a respected publication. Funny thing is, nearly 300 Glassdoor reviews slam his leadership, and his approval rating is sitting at an abysmal 31%.

So, naturally, I couldn’t resist commenting on the LinkedIn post. “Unbelievable! Leading a company that inspires such passionate Glassdoor reviews is no small feat.” 😛

The company deleted it almost immediately. Guess they don’t appreciate honesty!

Jobadvisor:

The situation you described highlights a common issue in corporate culture, particularly regarding transparency and accountability. Your former CEO receiving a "Most Admired CEO" award, despite a low Glassdoor approval rating of 31%, reflects a disconnect between public perception and employee sentiment.

Key Points:

• CEO Approval Ratings: These ratings are often seen as indicators of leadership effectiveness and employee satisfaction. A low approval rating, especially when juxtaposed with accolades, raises questions about the criteria used for such awards and the overall health of the organizational culture
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• Employee Sentiment: The disparity between the CEO's recognition and the negative feedback from employees on platforms like Glassdoor suggests that while external accolades may be awarded based on certain metrics (like financial performance), they do not always reflect internal morale or leadership quality
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• Social Media Dynamics: Your comment on LinkedIn was likely perceived as a challenge to the narrative being promoted by the company. Companies often monitor their online presence closely, especially during public relations campaigns, which can lead to swift removal of comments that contradict their messaging
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• Toxic Workplace Indicators: The reaction to your comment suggests a culture that may not tolerate dissent or critical feedback. This can be indicative of a toxic workplace environment where employees feel discouraged from voicing their opinions, leading to further disengagement and dissatisfaction among staff
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This scenario serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning leadership recognition with genuine employee experiences and fostering an environment where honest feedback is valued rather than suppressed.