Five things to consider for survival and avoidance of (too much) frustration:
1. There is no hope, there is no future outside of HQ (Houston or Rotterdam);
2. At LYB, a "manager" (whatever the rank) is expected to exclusively manage those above him/her.
3. “Managing”, in that context, (a) requires complete brain shutdown and blind execution of whatever is asked by someone above (and the same is expected down the line) and (b) includes avid boot-licking and the most submissive servility.
4. Broad restructuration have caused experienced managers to be laid off and replaced with inexperienced managers to whom one repeats that they are leaders and the best and the elite. This permanent leadership autosuggestion chant has created an ego inflation not commensurate with the true leading abilities of a great part of those selected. And given the fact that most, if not all, of them where selected according to the principle explained in 3) above, one can easily imagine how inspiring and motivating is this crowd.
5. The level of bureaucracy would give a headache to a soviet official from the Stalinian era. A total incompetent blindly following the processes has more future in that corporation than someone cutting the corners, even for the final benefit of all. Brace, for red tape is everywhere.
