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> Improving communication flow between departments, building better processes, discovering metrics, these are things that you can do to help make your company b
by calinet6 12y ago
> Improving communication flow between departments, building better processes, discovering metrics, these are things that you can do to help make your company better without having to get the leadership involved.
This requires someone with a surprising amount of knowledge and ability, outside of the normal field of software development. It's a rare skill to find in anyone, let alone a highly skilled tech worker.
Ideally everyone is thinking about the processes and systems that impact them critically, but even that requires a minimum of knowledge and ability to think in systems. It's one of the most under-appreciated and ambiguous skills to learn.
- Kalium 12y agoIt also requires that the engineer be within an organization where they have a reasonable expectations that their attempt will be well-received. I know I have spent time in organizations where attempting to go above and beyond your "place" as an engineer is punished harshly.
- vinceguidry 12y agoYou could talk about all the things it 'takes' to be great at your job, or you could just come up with your own idea of greatness and chase that. Eventually you'll outgrow your current position. Whether you get promoted or find another job at that point is an implementation detail.
- Kalium 12y agoThat's the theory, yes. In practice, many engineers are averse to unemployment, and will be discouraged from pursuing particular notions of greatness that risk it.