So I realized Amad’s comment obsession was probably a defense against this dynamic—“I have to say something to my juniors when I see them”.
I think there’s a bit of a trap here where, because Amad is known for always making a comment whenever he ends up next to an employee, if he then doesn’t make a comment next to someone, it feels like a deliberate insult.
That said, I see the same behavior from US tech leadership pretty broadly, so I think the incentive to say something friendly in the elevator is pretty strong to start (norms of equality, first name basis, etc. in tech), and then once you start doing that you have to always do it to avoid insult.
I think there’s a bit of a trap here where, because Amad is known for always making a comment whenever he ends up next to an employee, if he then doesn’t make a comment next to someone, it feels like a deliberate insult.
That said, I see the same behavior from US tech leadership pretty broadly, so I think the incentive to say something friendly in the elevator is pretty strong to start (norms of equality, first name basis, etc. in tech), and then once you start doing that you have to always do it to avoid insult.
Good point!