There are many layers to BAE Systems as in most big companies and the higher you go in the company the more intense the ‘sunshine stories’ become, which is due to the people below you not wanting to be seen as a failure.
The employees that make our products are highly skilled, however there are some who have been with BAE Systems all their life, and refuse to change, they won’t embrace anything new and anyone’s new ideas, which halts new talent young or old in progressing. There is an attitude of “We’ve always done this way and if it’s not broke don’t try to change it”. This leads to processes that are not fit for purpose, and workarounds that become processes, but it keeps Bob in Shed 4 in a job.
Management is under constant pressure to save money but without impacting quality, there comes a point when ‘cheap is not cheap’, you’re just buying a breakdown. When this happens, the fingers get pointed a right the way to the bottom of the pile.
If you do find yourself in an exec role depending on how high will determine the behaviour shown. Mid level execs who dream of going higher start to show and arrogance that they know will get them moving up the ranks quicker. When you get to senior management that’s when the Machiavellian behaviour appears, the cunningness and manipulative traits come to the front, they will use anyone and anything to gain the necessary power, or build the ultimate empire.
BAE Systems have spent a lot of money on learning programmes to address Mental Health and they say it’s ok to say you’re not ok! Now you try and tell HR that you are struggling! forget the ‘it’s ok to say you’re not ok’ strapline – you’re on your own and you better shape up quick.
Like most businesses there are people/managers who are fantastic and genuinely care about their teams, and they have been amazing through lockdown, but there are many that haven’t even kept in touch with their teams, or they force them onto awkward team calls – these are the ones that lack the emotional intelligence to even understand the basics.
I had an amazing manager, she was kind, thoughtful, strict when needed but genuinely cared about her team, we could go to her with anything and she would listen, and I mean listen, she made you feel that you where the most important person at the time. She had been in Shared Services for a few years but we lost her to Head Office, she felt like she had no other option but to move roles to get progression. I still contact her now when I feel no-one is listening. She is what a manager should be, we got the job done and it was done well, and always knew she had our backs.
