6 ms·

Ask HN: What do I do if my co-founder is playing video games?

4 points by zhoujeffrey8 5y ago

ssss11 5y ago
If it’s a gaming startup I’d say they’re hard at work testing product! Otherwise I wouldn’t care whether it’s gaming versus _insert any other non-work activity_ unless the work isn’t getting done. If it’s not getting done I’d focus the inevitable conversation on that metric, not the gaming.
airbreather 5y ago
Sounds like you are asking "What if my co-founder doesn't do everything exactly the way I want and I would do". If you had asked, what if my co-founder is not meeting his/her obligations, then that is a different story regardless of whether they are playing video games or not.
1cvmask 5y ago
Maybe have a vesting schedule for co-founders, and have concrete KPIs and deliverables.
mikece 5y ago
Personally, I would ignore it. If they're an over-performer and taking a brain-break then it won't affect their productivity. If they're a slacker anyway then it's a matter for management to solve. The larger problem would be if the person is an under-achieve, management knows, and they do nothing. In this case the video game playing is the symptom of an organization with management issues.
- uberman 5y ago
  The player is the co-founder, not a co-worker. Does that change your recommendation at all?
  - nightfly 5y ago
    Why should it? Founders aren't robots
    - uberman 5y ago
      Since they are a co-founder, who is "the management" that is going to see individual performance issues and solve them? I hope you don't think that "the board" will know in a vacuum that an individual is underperforming...
readonthegoapp 5y ago
As opposed to eating vegan sandwiches? Fire him/her!
high_byte 5y ago
join for some gaming for bonding and change of mood, let off steam if you need and get back to work! also sleep well :)
hresvelgr 5y ago
They're probably just taking a break. time_sunk != output. I "waste" time at work quite often but that's because I know when I am in certain moods of productivity. Forcing myself to work when I'm not in the mental state to do so is like beating a dead horse. Perhaps your co-founder also recognises this. Have an honest discussion. Keep your concerns free from judgemental language; for example: "When I see you playing video games it makes me concerned about what your priorities are and I want to have a chat about it." If they're reasonable, they'll be straight with you. If they ascribe any judgement in your words (assuming you use non-judgemental language) then they're probably feeling attacked, in which case, I would de-escalate. The key thing here is empathy. If you handle the situation with decorum, and they do not, then you likely have more problems beyond your co-founder wasting time. edit: coworker to co-founder
yuppie_scum 5y ago
Context matters
armchairhacker 5y ago
Challenge him to a game, winner takes the loser's stake in the company.
adawg4 5y ago
Make them ceo
phendrenad2 5y ago
In the office? When he/she should be working? During board meetings? At home? Are you peering in the window? Is he/she winning?

4 points by zhoujeffrey8 5y ago

If it’s a gaming startup I’d say they’re hard at work testing product! Otherwise I wouldn’t care whether it’s gaming versus _insert any other non-work activity_ unless the work isn’t getting done. If it’s not getting done I’d focus the inevitable conversation on that metric, not the gaming.

airbreather 5y ago

Sounds like you are asking "What if my co-founder doesn't do everything exactly the way I want and I would do". If you had asked, what if my co-founder is not meeting his/her obligations, then that is a different story regardless of whether they are playing video games or not.

1cvmask 5y ago

Maybe have a vesting schedule for co-founders, and have concrete KPIs and deliverables.

mikece 5y ago

Personally, I would ignore it. If they're an over-performer and taking a brain-break then it won't affect their productivity. If they're a slacker anyway then it's a matter for management to solve. The larger problem would be if the person is an under-achieve, management knows, and they do nothing. In this case the video game playing is the symptom of an organization with management issues.

uberman 5y ago
The player is the co-founder, not a co-worker. Does that change your recommendation at all?
- nightfly 5y ago
  Why should it? Founders aren't robots
  - uberman 5y ago
    Since they are a co-founder, who is "the management" that is going to see individual performance issues and solve them? I hope you don't think that "the board" will know in a vacuum that an individual is underperforming...

readonthegoapp 5y ago

As opposed to eating vegan sandwiches? Fire him/her!

high_byte 5y ago

join for some gaming for bonding and change of mood, let off steam if you need and get back to work! also sleep well :)

hresvelgr 5y ago

They're probably just taking a break. time_sunk != output. I "waste" time at work quite often but that's because I know when I am in certain moods of productivity. Forcing myself to work when I'm not in the mental state to do so is like beating a dead horse. Perhaps your co-founder also recognises this. Have an honest discussion. Keep your concerns free from judgemental language; for example: "When I see you playing video games it makes me concerned about what your priorities are and I want to have a chat about it." If they're reasonable, they'll be straight with you. If they ascribe any judgement in your words (assuming you use non-judgemental language) then they're probably feeling attacked, in which case, I would de-escalate. The key thing here is empathy. If you handle the situation with decorum, and they do not, then you likely have more problems beyond your co-founder wasting time. edit: coworker to co-founder

yuppie_scum 5y ago

Context matters

armchairhacker 5y ago

Challenge him to a game, winner takes the loser's stake in the company.

adawg4 5y ago

Make them ceo

phendrenad2 5y ago

In the office? When he/she should be working? During board meetings? At home? Are you peering in the window? Is he/she winning?