4 ms·

I can't stand articles like this. Not because they don't impart any wisdom, but because they sound so phony and contrived. If you are going to write fiction, at

I can't stand articles like this. Not because they don't impart any wisdom, but because they sound so phony and contrived. If you are going to write fiction, at least get your archetypes right. Guys writing memory management code on windows are 50 year olds with giant beards, not cocky youngsters who use the phrase "mad skillz." The mad skillz guys are the ruby programmers who believe the apex of programming is building a "domain specific language."

thaumaturgy 18y ago
Me: Cocky Youngster Wrote a memory manager in C++ for Windows No beard Don't think I've ever used the phrase "mad skillz" to describe myself Never played with Ruby --- Well, you got one point right anyway. :-)
- andreyf 18y ago
  You: need to work on reading comprehension. He said he was describing an archetype, and made no claim as to whether you fit it or not.
  - thaumaturgy 18y ago
    I didn't see anything in the article that suggested it was (or wasn't) fiction, so where'd all this archetype nonsense come from? Maybe menloparkbum was just writing an ironical-kinda-funny comment, but I've known people very similar to the character in the article, I've occasionally been the character in the article, and I'd be surprised if at least a few of the regulars around here weren't similar to the character in the article.
snprbob86 18y ago
Yes, this article is contrived and the archetypes are a bit skewed, but it closes on an interesting point. I, myself, am a cocky developer. Additionally, my technical brain is better connected to my mouth and works far faster than my social brain. Often, my comments are misconstrued as attacks and it has significantly weakened my ability to impact decision makers. I am however, well aware that I have problems. I aggressively seek out feedback and encourage those who provide it to "give it to my straight". Via this process, I have significantly improved my communication skills and developed some political tact. This brings my to my next point: cocky people like to be right, but are well aware when they are wrong. If they are making statements which appear to be ad hominem attacks, they probably aren't doing it intentionally, or they don't mean any harm. So just mirror their behavior, be honest, be direct, tell them that their personality is hurting team moral, and suggest they try to improve themselves. Then, agree upon personal commitments of GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT not instantaneous performance, which dictate their performance rewards. Hell, I had one manager who requested to review all emails I sent to customers. My communication skills are many fold better for it. Follow that plan, and I guarantee you can turn most any cocky coder into a productive team member. If you're lucky, that team member will even significantly educate the rest of the team and encourage them to do the same. This is what people managers are supposed to do...
- bsaunder 18y ago
  I've also found the following strategies helpful: Be less vocal. You might be right in your opinion on some matter, but, you don't always need to express it. Some things are okay to be ... less than ideal. Let people make their own mistakes (just try to contain them to less important system areas). Teach rather than debate. When you do have a strong opinion, try to phrase your comments as less oppressive suggestions. If over time people ignore your suggestions and it's a critical system component, only then become more assertive and vocal. People hate being told what to do. But if you plant a seed, they are much more open to modifying their view in the long run, after they have digested your reasoning. Everyone likes to do things their own way. As long a business goals are being efficiently achieved, don't mess with things. It seems better to guide people than direct them.

thaumaturgy 18y ago

Me: Cocky Youngster Wrote a memory manager in C++ for Windows No beard Don't think I've ever used the phrase "mad skillz" to describe myself Never played with Ruby --- Well, you got one point right anyway. :-)

andreyf 18y ago
You: need to work on reading comprehension. He said he was describing an archetype, and made no claim as to whether you fit it or not.
- thaumaturgy 18y ago
  I didn't see anything in the article that suggested it was (or wasn't) fiction, so where'd all this archetype nonsense come from? Maybe menloparkbum was just writing an ironical-kinda-funny comment, but I've known people very similar to the character in the article, I've occasionally been the character in the article, and I'd be surprised if at least a few of the regulars around here weren't similar to the character in the article.

snprbob86 18y ago

Yes, this article is contrived and the archetypes are a bit skewed, but it closes on an interesting point. I, myself, am a cocky developer. Additionally, my technical brain is better connected to my mouth and works far faster than my social brain. Often, my comments are misconstrued as attacks and it has significantly weakened my ability to impact decision makers. I am however, well aware that I have problems. I aggressively seek out feedback and encourage those who provide it to "give it to my straight". Via this process, I have significantly improved my communication skills and developed some political tact. This brings my to my next point: cocky people like to be right, but are well aware when they are wrong. If they are making statements which appear to be ad hominem attacks, they probably aren't doing it intentionally, or they don't mean any harm. So just mirror their behavior, be honest, be direct, tell them that their personality is hurting team moral, and suggest they try to improve themselves. Then, agree upon personal commitments of GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT not instantaneous performance, which dictate their performance rewards. Hell, I had one manager who requested to review all emails I sent to customers. My communication skills are many fold better for it. Follow that plan, and I guarantee you can turn most any cocky coder into a productive team member. If you're lucky, that team member will even significantly educate the rest of the team and encourage them to do the same. This is what people managers are supposed to do...

bsaunder 18y ago
I've also found the following strategies helpful: Be less vocal. You might be right in your opinion on some matter, but, you don't always need to express it. Some things are okay to be ... less than ideal. Let people make their own mistakes (just try to contain them to less important system areas). Teach rather than debate. When you do have a strong opinion, try to phrase your comments as less oppressive suggestions. If over time people ignore your suggestions and it's a critical system component, only then become more assertive and vocal. People hate being told what to do. But if you plant a seed, they are much more open to modifying their view in the long run, after they have digested your reasoning. Everyone likes to do things their own way. As long a business goals are being efficiently achieved, don't mess with things. It seems better to guide people than direct them.