This is extra dangerous because it can result in you losing confidence which can lead to you developing patterns that make it seem like you are falling which in turn feeds a downward spiral. This older HBR article on "Set up to fail syndrome" should be read by everyone who is a manager or feels like they are struggling: https://hbr.org/1998/03/the-set-up-to-fail-syndrome
Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
51–60 of 293 posts
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#52One of my problems is that I like to write code. Specifically novel code. But the places I work at really want me to just do regular CRUD work and glue work (use other people's code and avoid novel code). How do I find companies that write their own cool new code? Maybe coding teams get broken down into such small teams that there is only room for CRUD and glue and novel code gets too risky when trying to deliver use…
New code is not cool.
Today's new code is tomorrow's legacy code. It will need updates, security vulnerabilities will be discovered in it, and it will break occasionally or maybe lose data.
Someone will have to maintain it.
People need to have more respect when it comes to new code. It should be treated like unexploded ordnance.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#53My skills have deteriorated too. Mismanagement and poor company policies have created a lot of inefficiency and sapped my morale. I'm just coasting. I figure the disappointment, frustration, etc is present in any alternative job anyways.
Move to another job. Not all organizations / teams are incompetent.
Eh, I'd rather coast at this point. I'm too old and have too many responsibilities (and restrictions) at home to switch companies at fhis point.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#54There is research that supports your experience and conclusions. See Clifton Strengthsfinder, based on Gallup's research. The gist is: build on your superpowers instead of on the qualities you are less strong.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#55The finality with which you describe your experience leaves little room for understanding a wider range of perspectives, doesn’t consider room for misunderstanding or the chance that you’re simply wrong in your view of underlying events. For me, that’s the growth that’s missing from this anecdote. It seems unlikely you will be happy in your next role given this perspective.
Well I didn’t spell out the full drama but: 1. It’s been more than a year and I’ve beat myself up, had coaching, and assumed I was the problem 2. This boss / situation is the outlier from almost every other role and I’ve decided to stop beating myself up about it (for context I’m mid career, worked at half a dozen places) 3. I have complete empathy for the boss. This situation is just different from past roles. They…
I doubt it was your fault. I’ve seen this story over and over again (including with world class / top-knotch engineers).
The root cause was poor management in every single case I’ve personally witnessed.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#56I had a situation once where we had a minor re-org and I ended up with a new manager. Literally day one, he made an attempt to change everyone's role. We were a team of developers and business analysts. He decided that everyone would become both and spend 50% of their time on each activity. Not sure why he thought this was a good idea, but he did. After he announced it, I had a 1x1 with him and clearly let him know t…
So many developer stories out there where it doesn't sound like they ever really had a direct talk with their boss.
> it doesn't sound like they ever really had a direct talk with their boss.
Sure, but why? Why wouldn't you have a direct, honest conversation with your manager?
I'll tell you why.
Because it can be terrifying.
You don't know how they will react, whether you'll be forced off interesting projects, put at the top of the layoff list, or similar. You can watch how they handle other situations and get an inkling, but you don't know.
Good bosses won't react like that and there are many good bosses out there who want you to grow and will work with you to achieve your goals. But there are plenty of bad bosses too.
From this perspective, it's a lot easier to just pack it in, write off the boss and company, and find a new job. It's less satisfying, to be sure, but less terrifying.
It's taken me a long time to realize how important it is to have a boss you can have a direct conversation with. It's also a factor of my experience and knowledge of my self-worth too.
If I were a new developer in my first job, it'd be a lot harder to have a tough conversation with my boss, because my alternatives would be fewer.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#57One of my problems is that I like to write code. Specifically novel code. But the places I work at really want me to just do regular CRUD work and glue work (use other people's code and avoid novel code). How do I find companies that write their own cool new code? Maybe coding teams get broken down into such small teams that there is only room for CRUD and glue and novel code gets too risky when trying to deliver use…
New code is not cool. Today's new code is tomorrow's legacy code. It will need updates, security vulnerabilities will be discovered in it, and it will break occasionally or maybe lose data. Someone will have to maintain it. People need to have more respect when it comes to new code. It should be treated like unexploded ordnance.
Thank you for your comment. Maybe I need to be reminded of that every once in a while.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#58I had a situation once where we had a minor re-org and I ended up with a new manager. Literally day one, he made an attempt to change everyone's role. We were a team of developers and business analysts. He decided that everyone would become both and spend 50% of their time on each activity. Not sure why he thought this was a good idea, but he did. After he announced it, I had a 1x1 with him and clearly let him know t…
This right here. I realized long ago I should do whatever I can to the best of my ability. If my superiors want to do something stupid or use my skillet in a suboptimal way my responsibility is to do my best to council with them, share what I see and then do the best job I can at whatever I am assigned to, assuming over course it doesn't cross legal or moral boundaries. My job is not my Identity we have an economic a…
I sort of agree. Jobs usually have aspects that seem unrewarding. But if you spend most of your time cleaning break rooms then it doesn't let you grow the type of skills needed to land a SWE salary at the next place.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#59One of my problems is that I like to write code. Specifically novel code. But the places I work at really want me to just do regular CRUD work and glue work (use other people's code and avoid novel code). How do I find companies that write their own cool new code? Maybe coding teams get broken down into such small teams that there is only room for CRUD and glue and novel code gets too risky when trying to deliver use…
While maybe my view is a bit myopic here, I think the harsh reality of the world is that it's very difficult to find an opportunity where all you do is write brand new code outside of a small/early stage startup. The numbers just don't make sense to constantly reinvent the wheel, even though many developers love and prefer that. In truth the best developers I've ever worked with and managed have a good intuition abou…
Excellent analysis. Yeah maybe I do struggle with build vs re-use situations.
Re: Tell HN: Beware 'Ungrowth' in Your Job
#60Does anyone in the team understand what you bring to the table? Is your contribution key to the team's success? If that's the case then the others could serve as promoters for your case in front of the boss who apparently doesn't see or appreciate this. But if this is not the case then maybe your current skill set is not a good match to what is currently needed. I don't know, maybe someone else is already covering th…
Yes, I helped build the team. Many of the colleagues are my friends and best coworkers from past jobs. That’s what makes leaving so hard. I’m being recruited heavily by other internal teams, which helps my mental state right now.
Interesting, building a team and operating as part of a now stable team ca be different affairs so that might be part of the issue.
Anyway, the interest from other teams is a good sign that your skills are still valued elsewhere. Moving on might be the best choice especially if you've been struggling with this for some time.