It's a hard lesson, but everything in a company is driven by politics. Technical skills will only get you so far - maybe to the senior individual contributor position. Beyond that, your job will include communication, evangalization, and compromise.

I realise the way I put it may sound ominous, but it's for the good of everyone involved really.

Most organisations are shockingly ineffective. Micromanagement and lack of long term planning is abundant. I get hired because I'm good at writing software. This is not wrong, but I can add much more value if I deliver what is needed rather than what is asked. My goal is simply to be able to do that.