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I've definitely been that person who didn't want the project to succeed - and I was the key developer (and an external consultant). I was convinced that we were

I've definitely been that person who didn't want the project to succeed - and I was the key developer (and an external consultant). I was convinced that we were implementing the wrong thing. Even though I tried to suck it up and do the job, it was hard to do my best on something I was sure was going to fail. I had to be talked out of quitting a couple of times. I think they might have been better letting me quit the first time, and getting a replacement who didn't have so much ego affecting their work.

troels 11y ago
That's a very brave and honest comment!
- ak39 11y ago
  Yes it was. But would it not have been braver of him to support the project by putting ego aside?
  - andrewingram 11y ago
    In fairness, he did say he tried. Perhaps there was a lack of bravery, perhaps he could have gone to this bosses and explained the situation, but perhaps he did that and it wasn't enough.
    - aknosis 11y ago
      It's also likely that he didn't realize what he was doing at the time. Maybe he felt upset or stressed about the situation but not necessarily that he was subconsciously hoping to failure.
  - klibertp 11y ago
    I wouldn't call that "brave". "Putting ego aside" is hard, requires a lot of work and in most situations it's a safe thing to do. Hence no bravery here, maybe loyalty would be a better word. He was being brave when he brought his problem to his superiors and said he'd like to quit. Actually, the only "braver" thing in this situation would be to quit anyway, without letting them "talk him out of quitting". But that could have been also stupid, we don't know the exact circumstances. On a more general note: everyone should try to ~~contain~~ [edit: solve!] his/her ego-issues (and other psychological issues) as much as possible, of course. But placing someone with mentioned issues on the project which caused these issues in the first place is clearly a fail of management. If "soft skills" are so important (and they are), then the management should use them! Management should place employees in an optimal environment so that psychological issues are less likely to occur. Making people work for a long time on things they are averse to is a recipe for disaster. Both for the employee and the project.
  - jacobush 11y ago
    We are all on a learning journey of life.
utuxia 11y ago
This happens all the time.
notNow 11y ago
The HN version of late time confessions, I didn't expect that but this website is full of surprises =)

troels 11y ago

That's a very brave and honest comment!

ak39 11y ago
Yes it was. But would it not have been braver of him to support the project by putting ego aside?
- andrewingram 11y ago
  In fairness, he did say he tried. Perhaps there was a lack of bravery, perhaps he could have gone to this bosses and explained the situation, but perhaps he did that and it wasn't enough.
  - aknosis 11y ago
    It's also likely that he didn't realize what he was doing at the time. Maybe he felt upset or stressed about the situation but not necessarily that he was subconsciously hoping to failure.
- klibertp 11y ago
  I wouldn't call that "brave". "Putting ego aside" is hard, requires a lot of work and in most situations it's a safe thing to do. Hence no bravery here, maybe loyalty would be a better word. He was being brave when he brought his problem to his superiors and said he'd like to quit. Actually, the only "braver" thing in this situation would be to quit anyway, without letting them "talk him out of quitting". But that could have been also stupid, we don't know the exact circumstances. On a more general note: everyone should try to ~~contain~~ [edit: solve!] his/her ego-issues (and other psychological issues) as much as possible, of course. But placing someone with mentioned issues on the project which caused these issues in the first place is clearly a fail of management. If "soft skills" are so important (and they are), then the management should use them! Management should place employees in an optimal environment so that psychological issues are less likely to occur. Making people work for a long time on things they are averse to is a recipe for disaster. Both for the employee and the project.
- jacobush 11y ago
  We are all on a learning journey of life.

utuxia 11y ago

This happens all the time.

notNow 11y ago

The HN version of late time confessions, I didn't expect that but this website is full of surprises =)