```json
{
    "title": "Microsophist: Being Visible v. GTD",
    "url": "https://performancezen.com/2005/05/25/microsophist-being-visible-v-gtd/",
    "datePublished": "2005-05-25",
    "dateModified": "2005-05-25",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "Microsophist (He's BACK) brings up a very interesting point on upward mobility within any large company: It's all about the optics. [here] What are optics? It's a term I first…",
    "author": "spierzchala",
    "publisher": "Performance Zen"
}
```

# Microsophist: Being Visible v. GTD

Microsophist (**He's BACK**) brings up a very interesting point on upward mobility within any large company: It's all about the *optics*. [[here](http://microsophist.blogspot.com/2005/05/its-all-overhead.html)]
What are *optics*? It's a term I first heard used in reference to the political culture in British Columbia. It described the massaging news to make it look good. Effectively, it means the same as *spinning the news*.
At any large corporation, it is not about getting things done; it is about looking good and drawing (positive) attention to yourself as someone who manages up well.
The side-effect of this is that leaders that manage both up and down well are seen as unusual.