Engineering Multipliers

I'd like for more people to move away from the idea that if you're stuck, you're not good enough. That showing a moment of weakness will damage your reputation and credibility. Spoiler alert: it doesn't. I can say this confidently. After managing engineering teams for a while, I can hardly remember an instance where I thought less of someone because of a question they asked. Not too long ago I shared my thoughts on Asking for Help, and this is very close to it.

I want to cover something different though. Almost everyone in their career had to ask for help at some point. When you work in a silo, the mental effort to unblock yourself with no external support is a challenge. This is the opposite of what I try to instill in any team I join. Having a safe place to discuss ideas, blockers, or ask for support. I believe that is the engineering multiplier where collaboration among peers can create a powerful effect. Ever had the feeling that the solution seems reachable but something is missing? You can't quite grasp it but the moment you collaborate two things happen: you have to explain it to someone else, that someone else might help you or ask important questions.

The explanation part is a known "phenomenon". You have to organize your thoughts and rationalize them in a way that is digestible to someone unfamiliar with the problem. That alone can make new ideas surface or bring clarity to your reasoning. If that doesn't happen, the person you're explaining this to can still jog your brain with inquisitive questions. Best case scenario they can actively help you to get to the solution. The moment you shy away from these collaborations, you lose an opportunity to progress at a faster pace.

I find that any leader worth their weight should work hard in creating this type of environment. Here are two quick tips to bring this to your team:

1. Have a Weekly (or bi-weekly) Office Hour. In my team, we call it the "Dance Floor Chat". It promotes an intimate environment where people can discuss anything they are interested in. Sometimes we just ask for support from one another, sometimes we go over interesting projects or initiatives within the company. Other times we brainstorm about innovative ways to get our product to the next level. Speaking of brainstorming...
2. Introduce Recurring Brainstorming Sessions with Other Teams. These are great opportunities to get other's perspectives on a path forward. In my experience, people feel more comfortable making the jump to a wider audience once they feel "settled" in a more intimate setting. These meetings started after I introduced the Dance Floor Chats.

On a personal note, I experienced the opposite a few times in my career. Stuck on a problem for months with no one able to help me or nowhere to ask. I eventually got over those bumps but wished there was a community I could rely on to avoid being blocked for that long.

Thoughts

Don't overthink it. Start with a few simple steps to multiply the engineering power of your team. Leverage each other's experience and knowledge to unblock one another and push for creative ways to solve a problem. Doing this effectively is crucial though. Learn how to lead a meeting and feel comfortable with that before getting this started. No need for a perfect formula, have an agenda and guide the conversation. Rinse and repeat until you have found a format that works.