Another fire broke out.
Fred[1] was called into a meeting to figure out the issue. The problem required multiple layers of management and Fred could feel the intensity in the room.
His manager Vic was there, along with his manager’s manager. Ted was the senior manager of the group. At the head of the table sat the director of engineering, King Kong.
Fred was a recent hire and very junior.
The whiteboard looked like a mess as the entire chain of engineering managers and tech leads tried to troubleshoot.
Then there was a disagreement.
Fred’s direct manager Vic raised his voice, “No we have to do it this way!”
Fred’s manager’s manager disagreed, “You failed to see my point – we have – to…”
Ted jumped up, and screamed “You’re both wrong!”
Then the highest ranking boss King Kong slams his meaty fists on the table, “All of you quiet!”
“We will do it this way!”
The room became silent. King Kong then proposed his own solution. As the junior engineer, Fred could only watch. But Fred believed he might have a way to figure out the problem. He was the one who worked on code closest on the issue. He wasn’t sure how to speak up since he didn’t want to be shouted down.
How could Fred even contribute to the situation?
I believe most junior team members will remain silent forever after an outburst like this. They will be conditioned to not speak their mind out of fear. As an engineering manager, you need to pay attention to who hasn’t said anything. Ask for their opinion gently. Your job is to keep the other engineering leaders at bay and create a safe place for a junior engineer to work out their thoughts.
How to do this? Assess your environment. My recommendation is to raise your hand and voice that Fred hasn’t spoken. Given that he’s new and learning – we should assess the validity of his idea with care. I hope this can cool emotions. The next best option is to work with Fred and send an email so you have that documented. The worst thing you can do is stay quiet if Fred’s insight could help the company through a crisis.
[1] This may or may not have happened. Names are completely fictional. Any relation is purely a coincidence.
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