In an org, the person executing hardest is the one presumed to be correct.

Hustle is a hack to have proof of work, in a way that isn't necessarily aligned with useful work.

"Is that person adding value by doing the right thing?"

"I don't know, but they've clearly been hustling, so they're at least pulling their weight."

But it's just as easy to run around in circles or do performative work ("look how much sweat I have on my brow!")

When people don't look closely and there's a disagreement, everyone assumes the person hustling is more likely to be correct. A core asymmetry.