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I experienced both sides of this in five years at a company in hypergrowth. In year 1, I was determined to accomplish X and ignored the skeptical comments of s

I experienced both sides of this in five years at a company in hypergrowth. In year 1, I was determined to accomplish X and ignored the skeptical comments of some colleagues who'd been at the company longer than me. I failed and wasted some time. In years 4 and 5, new colleagues were determined to accomplish X and ignored my skeptical comments. I learned so much at that job.

hinkley 5y ago
It is a matter of kind though. One kind is realism, the other is cynicism. Optimists often lump the two together but they are different things. If the laws of physics or information theory prevent something, by all means be a wet blanket. Loudly and often If cultural turf wars in the company prevent something, often the New Guy can succeed where others have failed. If they fall flat enough they can join the Cynics Club with the rest of you, but telling them they will fail just cements your notion of what can and can't be done. Being repeatedly asked the same question by different people at different times and using different phrasing does occasionally get people to reflect on their assumptions. It is in my experience worth letting them invest the time and energy into the attempt. They're new, what's really the opportunity cost of letting them 'waste time on a lost cause'?