Pro Developer - Throwing Money Out the Window

The payoff is huge and yet subtle. We started out talking about the monumental waste that goes on in this business, and how so much of it could be averted if techies were just given a little more horsepower in the decision making process. Here's how it works.

The meeting rolls around for what looks to be yet another project disaster kickoff. Stupid, illogical requests are made of the developers by an apparently clueless management group. Programmers' voices are raised pointing out the logical problems, the logical solutions and the obvious consequences of ignoring their advice. They get passionate, they wax eloquent. Ultimately, they are completely ignored. All the time, you sit quietly in the corner, saying nothing.

Sometime later, after the meeting is over, you collect your thoughts regarding all the beneficial suggestions made by the team. Put together a very, very, small and simple spreadsheet or document, no more than one page, that highlights the suggestions along with the benefits. Summarize, summarize, summarize! Later that day, or the next, casually drop by the manager and drop off another "by the way" printout. Having already thought of how the benefits you've summarized could play to the personal advantage of your manager, briefly mention things in that light. "I was on my way to go do something else, but it occurred to me that the points that Joe and Fred made had an interesting side effect (note that you're not taking credit for someone else's idea, and you're also subtly building credibility for your team mates). If we gave their approach a shot, it would actually help you with this goal that you've been trying to accomplish. Anyway, here's a couple of notes on how it would help you, I thought it was something you'd appreciate. Gotta run…"

Of course, you'll have to replace that vaguely worded statement with specific mention of the benefits to your boss, but you get the idea. At this point, you've built up some credibility. Instead of insisting that the developers to get their way, you're once again been seen by your boss as obviously trying to cover his posterior. Furthermore, and this is critical, you drop the carefully orchestrated information into his lap, and then walk away. When he makes the decision, it needs to be his idea, not yours. Leave your ego at the door. We're interested in results here. Never let on that the idea was other than his.

Another way this often plays out is that in the aforementioned meeting, after you have a history of being a trusted, behind the scenes lieutenant, he may ask you point blank, "What do you think?" Of course, you don't want to trot out the benefits to his personal agenda in front of the group, but you can give low key support to your fellow developers by pointing out the benefits at the management and business level. And if you do it low key enough, your manager will very likely pull you aside the next day and say, "Hey, tell me more about this stuff you were talking about." There is often far more power in having the King's ear than in being the King.

Of course, these are just general ideas and scenarios to get you thinking. You're smart enough to outfox the compiler, so you're obviously smart enough to do the math on each situation on your own. All you really need is to change your priorities and approach. Instead of bold, loud, bloody frontal assaults on the bastions of corporate waste, learn to work quietly, behind enemy lines. You're not going to change the world. And you may only move that 90% waste figure to 70%. But when that 20% gain in productivity is in your turf, it feels really, really good. And who knows, if we all learn to fight behind the lines, maybe we will change the world of software development. Just realize that it will only happen one project at a time.