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Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

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Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#81
post #6

You’re probably optimizing for the wrong metrics. Look at the people that are promoted quickly and copy what they are doing. It probably isn’t number of JIRA tickets.

This makes a few assumptions while not answering the question or even really understanding what OP has to say.

They don't seem to be bothered about promotion. More that they think they're doing a lot more work than everyone else.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#82
You've gone from little to no processes where you can just steamroll through work to somewhere where there are processes.

If you're new then there will be a bunch of stuff you're probably not doing which others may be doing. Meetings with other teams, code review of other teams work, meetings with clients or other departments, chasing up things that are just lying around that don't really have tickets but yet somehow you need to deal with.

The fact they have a good excuse is really the thing. They have a good reason why. They're telling you all the other stuff they're working on but you're focused on the basic tasks because you're not used to dealing with the other stuff.

You may just not be cut out for working in teams for big companies. You may be someone who should work by themselves on small products. They're two totally different things and people who are good at one aren't always good at the other.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#83
post #6

You’re probably optimizing for the wrong metrics. Look at the people that are promoted quickly and copy what they are doing. It probably isn’t number of JIRA tickets.

This makes a few assumptions while not answering the question or even really understanding what OP has to say. They don't seem to be bothered about promotion. More that they think they're doing a lot more work than everyone else.

I guess I don't understand the frustration. Why does OP care if they are "working" more than everyone else?

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#84
I didn't see this observation in the comments so chiming in. Your 'team-of-one' comment resonated with me. Another way to frame what you're saying is that you're years behind when it comes to professional development working together on a team of engineers.

The phrases 'driving me nuts' and 'them being completely ineffective' are what reinforce this view, to me at least. They may be working far less hard on the code than you are, but it sounds to me like you're working far less hard on being a good teammate and given your history that may take time.

To be completely honest it sort of sounds like you're taking stimulants and they aren't, at least from the way you wrote this up. Get in, get good work done, get out. If you work remotely, all the better. Do some laundry, read a book. Meet and exceeding expectations sounds like about half of what you're getting done and getting worked up about (which I assume is tanking your mood into your evenings).

Focus on the soft skills and be a part of raising your team's morale (yourself included) rather than torpedo-ing it. I suspect the look on your face in some meetings says everything you wrote up here already.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#85
post #18

Your mistake is caring. Are you being rewarded for working much harder than your colleagues? Are they being punished for working hardly at all? Why are you working hard for the benefit of the company's bottom line? It's a big company, why do you care about its bottom line? Your colleagues have the right attitude. They are doing the absolute bare minimum to collect a paycheck and go home. I suggest you do the same. Ca…

This is a terrible take, if you are passionate about your work then those 8 hours go a whole lot quicker. If you’re not passionate then I would question if the position is a good fit

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#86
My junior colleagues are generally assigned straightforward, easy and well defined 2 or 3 point tickets. They can rack up 20 points quickly. I work on fixing or replacing old fucked up chunks of functionality or poorly defined tickets with unknown outcomes. Those can take weeks trying various approaches and no guarantee of results. Deer in the headlights look when I tell them what I’m working on. Point-based progress optics can be misleading. This may not be your case but that has been my experience.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#87
post #18

Your mistake is caring. Are you being rewarded for working much harder than your colleagues? Are they being punished for working hardly at all? Why are you working hard for the benefit of the company's bottom line? It's a big company, why do you care about its bottom line? Your colleagues have the right attitude. They are doing the absolute bare minimum to collect a paycheck and go home. I suggest you do the same. Ca…

This is a terrible take, if you are passionate about your work then those 8 hours go a whole lot quicker. If you’re not passionate then I would question if the position is a good fit

People have to eat. Not everyone has a passion in the working realm. My passion would be to make music. I don't think I have the commercial instinct or drive to make a living out of it. Also, that might just destroy my passion.

But you're right though, when I am in flow, those 8 hours go by a lot quicker :)

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#88
post #18

Your mistake is caring. Are you being rewarded for working much harder than your colleagues? Are they being punished for working hardly at all? Why are you working hard for the benefit of the company's bottom line? It's a big company, why do you care about its bottom line? Your colleagues have the right attitude. They are doing the absolute bare minimum to collect a paycheck and go home. I suggest you do the same. Ca…

> Your colleagues have the right attitude. They are doing the absolute bare minimum to collect a paycheck and go home. I suggest you do the same.

We don't know that. That's one stereotype theory that comes to mind when we hear "big company", but that's not the only plausible explanation.

Also, some people told to do the bare minimum at their jobs will think "Alrighty!" But the same advice could be very counterproductive for people who take pride in their craft or professionalism, or who want to see the mission happen. Those people should be nudged towards improving their situation (either at the current place, or somewhere else), not destroying their strengths.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with 0.1X programmer colleagues?

#89
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This makes a few assumptions while not answering the question or even really understanding what OP has to say. They don't seem to be bothered about promotion. More that they think they're doing a lot more work than everyone else.

I guess I don't understand the frustration. Why does OP care if they are "working" more than everyone else?

It's quite common for high performers to be annoyed by low performers. Often, they feel like they're having to cover for the low performers and are doing work they would normally not have to do if it wasn't for low performers.
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