Someone's leaving. The farewell message arrives. It's long. It's warm. It's full of superlatives.
"Incredible journey." "Amazing contributions." "Irreplaceable." "Inspiring leader."
In corporate systems with high theatricality, even departure becomes a stage. Messages about "new chapters" stop being about the person — they become rituals of stabilization.
The Mechanics
"New phase, fresh perspective, exciting chapter" — markers that structure stays the same, just repainting the facade.
"Inspiring leader, best I've ever worked with!" Sounds like recognition, but it's optical loyalty — a performance of unity.
When a key figure leaves, the system must show: "Nothing scary is happening." More emotions = less reflection.
Formally the message is for the one leaving. But really, it's for everyone staying: "Look, everything is beautiful, calm, harmonious."
The Symptom
The more epithets, the stronger the fear.
When gratitude turns into laudatory oratory, the system is afraid of emptiness and fills it with words.
Where every "thank you" sounds like a press release — there's no real feeling left. Ritual gratitude doesn't heal. It only pretends the system still has a soul.