for fixing prod while on vacation! 🙌 Helen delivered the feature in half the time — incredible! 💪 Dan jumped in and solved it again last night. Legend! Everyday praise — or signs of something deeper?
but it smells like chaos. Work illustrations by Storyset Constant reactivity No planning or clear ownership Moving targets all the time Delivery without quality or structure People jumping in, burning out, leaving fast
fixes Fight, flight or freeze — heroes choose fight Visibility beats sustainability Chaos makes heroes look necessary Systems are invisible — heroics are loud
greatest risk — losing your thinkers is. What This Matters *Now*? AI creates urgency & uncertainty Domain knowledge is now strategic value Hero culture pushes these people away And they leave — mentally first, then literally. Those who understand both the tech and the business are the new core asset. Organizations act like startups again — rushing, confused, and reactive.
rely on good people — they empower them. Leadership must own it : This shift starts from the top — not the bottom. Document and standardize: Critical knowledge should live in systems, not in heads. Celebrate team wins: Reward collaboration over individual fire-fighting. Make knowledge sharing a habit: Internal trainings, onboarding guides, and open documentation. Turn heroes into mentors: Don’t erase them — evolve them
to be everywhere. Just be dependable somewhere. 🎯 Own a domain: Be the person others trust on one topic — not everything. 📚 Share what you know: Document, teach, mentor. Visibility comes from value. 🤝 Be helpful, not heroic: Support others without being the savior. 📡 Be predictable & available: Show up reliably, not dramatically.
collaboration and alignment to effectively deliver solutions working in isolation and making decisions with just one person cause a lot more harm all of the future changes would depend just on that person. Engineering is one of the most collaborative fields out there
time good or even considered great. dogmatic beliefs tends to be quite inflammatory The real point here is to not limit your options. you can't grow in an environment where you already know the answers no solution or technology is completely right or wrong It's easier to be open to other opinions if you accept how little you know
on the how people perceive you! credibility very credible people have countless opportunities HOW TO BUILD CREDIBILITY ? be reliable admit mistakes focus on predictability, stability and consistency take ownership and responsibility be proactive do exactly what you say and agree upon focus on good communication focus on building good relationships focus on building your personal brand Credibility in the engineering industry
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