@threalist some of the books and essays i've been reading lately talk about the corporate siege mentality.

people are apparently happiest in some service positions where they can actually see the effect they had on other people. the more distant they are from seeing that what they do matters the sadder they are.

they are most productive in a tribe where they aren't strictly competing with one another and can delegate work around. it's kind of like being willing to admit you don't know something and asking vs. trying to hide that you don't know something so it can't be weaponized. (sineck calls it a 'circle of safety' but its basically just tribal dynamics.)