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deusprogrammer
6y

I learned a valuable lesson today about the life of a manager. I’m not a manager, but I am a senior level dev.

Today I was told there wasn’t room on the new team for 1 person, and I had pick that last team member. I had to choose between a friend who really isn’t cut out to be a dev and a non friend who is a better dev.

I talked through my reasoning and ultimately chose to put the friends job in jeopardy. They told me that I had solid leadership traits for being able to separate my emotions from my decision making. But I felt like a piece of shit.

I cried back at my desk. The friend doesn’t know yet and I can’t tell them. Is this what execs feel when they have to let people go?

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  • 3
    6y
    Think itike this: if u put in a mechanism a gear that is half broken or too small for his role in it the whole mechanism is bound to break.

    Same with teams, if you had put your friend who is not that good you may have endangered the performance of the team and consequently risked to put x people on the street.

    Then is not 5 min crying. Is a life of regret.
  • 2
    6y
    Damn corporate, can't plan their own budget. It's not your fault, it's theirs because they miscalculated something.
  • 3
    6y
    You did the right thing, but management didn't by asking you. If your friend was actually the better dev and you chose him, they would've thought you were choosing him because of your relationship. And now they may tell him you made the decision, and hurt your friendship.
  • 2
    6y
    @Brosyl wow, never thought of that. Thats actually really smart.
  • 0
    6y
    This totally depends on the team - if the bad dev/your friend is a good fit in the teams social structure he can most likely improve fast and also keep the team livid and more cohesive. The good dev could of course also fit in well - that’s all a matter of evaluating all viewpoints and arguments.

    Based on your input you did the right thing for the company and maybe even your career.

    Don’t moan if the good dev doesn’t fit well and makes everybody miserable.
  • 3
    6y
    Be proud of your tears. Sometimes shitty decisions have to be made, but you don't have to feel good about it. And let's face it, you were put in a no win situation
  • 2
    6y
    great time to find if he really is your friend - if so, he'll understand the problem, bear with it and work harder on becoming better dev
  • 0
    6y
    @zlice that’s sort of the execs role - think for the company first and be detached from personal relations to coworkers and subordinates.

    It’s not easy
  • 0
    6y
    You made the right decision.
  • 1
    6y
    @Root thank you ;_;. I still feel awful though.
  • 0
    6y
    Et tu, Brute? 😢
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