What happens in an organization when the Leadership says that something is important, but then actively won't do what is supposedly "important"?

Well, we are seeing that play out at Meta right at this moment.

It is being called a "Morale Crisis".

In the midst of their huge layoffs (common across all of Tech), Meta is also "urging" employees to come back to the office.

While not "strictly" necessary, the unspoken implications have been that if you are not in the office you will be part of the next layoff.

This has led to people saying that it's like, "Hunger Games meets Lord of the Flies" as employees try to "prove their worth" to Leadership.

However, what is making this even worse is the fact that Leadership doesn't seem beholden to these same expectations.

Now, I will give Zuckerberg himself a pass as he's on paternity leave - Family is important.

However, other major executives have reportedly completely relocated and often are not in office themselves.

Javier Olivan, Meta COO, often is in Europe.

Naomi Gleit, Head of Product, relocated to New York.

Adam Mossseri, Chief of Instagram, is working from London.

Guy Rosen, CISO, works from Tel Aviv.

None of them are expected to regularly be in-office in Silicon Valley, even though most other employees are.

It is also common for them to only join meetings remotely.

It is no wonder that the organization is having a "Morale Crisis".

Leaders should be the FIRST people beholden to expectations, to be the proof of what is important.

Leaders should be with their employees, helping them work together toward the company's goals.

When you don't, you end up with what is going on at Meta.

Employees under-cutting each other to try to "get ahead".

Overall lack of security, leading to fear.

This fear scientifically prevents Peak Performance from being attainable and spreads company-wide.

It also can explain how the company's top priority - the Metaverse, is generally looked down on by employees.

No leadership is showing them, in person, the vision of why it is important to the company.

It also explains the huge missed opportunity in AI which Meta is now scrambling to try and maintain any sort of relevance within.

When people are scared, they are unable to see opportunity, or if they do they become afraid to say anything about it.

When you combine that with Meta's "Fake Work" and the rumblings of people wanting their personal information out of the hands of companies like Meta, it is no wonder we are seeing such turmoil at the company.

Leaders must become Exemplars of what they claim is important.

When they aren't, turmoil and chaos will ensue.

It could be subtle, like the growing trend of "Quite Quitting".

Or it could make headlines as Meta seems to increasingly be doing as of late.