Performance Theater

Performative culture is toxic.

I see it all the time in engineering orgs.

Docs written not to clarify or build alignment - but to look like we’re doing something smart.

They’re just theater.

Neatly formatted, full of jargon, but empty when it comes to actually driving decisions.

And founders- oh, the 3am grind selfies in the office.

“Still at it”

(Yes, we get it. You’re burning the mid night oild. But is it moving the needle?)

I’ve stayed up tweaking a Notion page when I knew I should’ve been talking to customers.

I’ve written docs for applause, not outcomes.

I’ve performed productivity.

But real work?

It’s quieter. Less shiny. Often more boring.

It’s sitting with a hard problem, not screenshotting the tab overlord.

We need to stop performing.

Start doing the work for what it is.

Work that leads to the real outcomes, not just approval.

Yes, the outcome shouldn’t be a fluke.

There needs to be a process.

But that process should be efficient, not performative and ritualistic.

No gold stars for drama.

Just clarity, momentum and honest work.