An essential challenge for senior individual contributors (ICs) such as architects and staff+ engineers is guiding engineering teams towards well-informed technology decisions at scale. This can be a daunting task, often frustrating and at times feels impossible.
Software engineering is inherently creative, much like painting, where no two artists would create the same artwork. This creativity leads to strongly held opinions, often resulting in spirited debates that can feel like arguing and conflict rather than collaborative brainstorming. These debates, though difficult and uncomfortable, are extremely important and critical to our overall success.
This talk delves into the unique challenges faced by senior ICs who wield influence but lack direct authority, emphasizing the importance of presenting choices over solutions and engaging early in the decision-making process. We will explore techniques to make these debates more constructive, collaborative, less driven by ego and conflict, and more likely to result in decisive, well-informed decisions.
Key takeaways
- Harnessing Conflict for Progress: Embrace the chaos and recognize that conflict, when managed well, can drive innovation and better outcomes.
- Effective Decision-Making: Learn how to present choices over solutions to foster collaboration and reduce conflict.
- Early Engagement: Understand the importance of influencing decisions early to avoid entrenched solutions and defensiveness.
