Episode 535: Manager externalities and should I fight stupid processes

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

1. Listener Random Listener asks,

   You guys talk a lot about externalities, which helped me understand a lot about how my manager works. He wants to do things fast, but he does not follow good and standardized processes, even the ones he tries to push onto us. This adds a lot of work for us because now his mess becomes our mess. How can I give him this feedback in way he will both understand and not feel resentment? Thanks

2. Hello. I am individual contributor and have been with this team for 2 years.

   About a year ago a manager and a lead joined the team to fill in the growing positions. They came in with their preferences for code design, architecture, and ideologies.

   But they were all different from how we worked before. Their ways are not bad, but they add unnecessary complexities, taking away energy from just doing my pick-up - code - ship way.

   I shared my concerns, but they never get accepted as they just want to exercise their manager and lead powers. My teammates share similar opinions as me.

   Is it a worthy fight showing resistance to these changes or should I just suck it up adapt to their preferences?

   Each time I show any bit of resistance, it is being taken by them personally to their ego and discussions go on for tens of minutes and ends with either of us pissed off.

   Won’t quit my job for these petty people. Should I just say yes, adapt my work for good or bad and blame them when things don’t work? Do I even need to care about these workflow and operational changes as an individual contributor? Would there be any benefit resisting bad decisions at the cost of my mental peace?

   Thanks. You guys make me look forward to Mondays.