In the previous post, I suggested that you force the Engineers to translate all of their technical issues and decisions into their business implications. As mentioned, you will need to be brave and persistent to turn this into a habit.
However, I guarantee that many times during this process, you will find yourself at an impasse. You will be unable to effectively make a decision between two or three options that have technical underpinnings. It might be because the Engineers didn’t describe it in business terms effectively enough, or it could simply be due to it being a really tough decision.
In those times, you need a friend. I don’t mean just any friend – you need an Engineering friend. I hope that you have, sometime in your life, managed to befriend one of us nerdy Engineering types. If not, you’re going to have to find such a friend (I suggest hanging out at Comic-Cons, chess tournaments or Linux conferences [1]). Seriously, just try to find something in common with one of the Engineers in your company (I have seen a lot of people bond over Game of Thrones) and develop a rapport, if not a friendship. Bring gifts [2]. And, just like the TV game show [3], you need to “Phone a Friend” when these dilemmas confront you. Explain the situation as best you can and get their advice. Most often, they’ll need more information and will arm you with additional questions to ask the Engineers [4]. Eventually, they will help you come to a decision and, in the process, you’ll probably find that they’re pretty cool (and you’ll have a new friend).
This post is based on or excerpted from the upcoming book “De-Engineering the Corporation” by Darryl Ricker
Footnotes:
[1] If you’re an Engineer reading this, I’m just kidding. For our business friends reading this, please know that we are not the stereotypical geeks that the media and society portrays. We’re just like everyone else – we read mainstream books just like everyone else (such as Lord of the Rings) and watch mainstream TV shows just like everyone else (such as Big Bang Theory and Silicon Valley) and we watch mainstream movies just like everyone else (like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings). Most of us can’t even solve a Rubik’s Cube…in less than a minute.
[2] I suggest some non-standard Rubik’s Cube toys or a couple of GPUs.
[3] Full disclosure: I have never watched that show or just about any show (including Game of Thrones) in the past 10 years. No cable, many children, no time.
[4] This will have the side-benefit of making you look smart to the Engineers. And please don’t write in the comments that by suggesting that this will make you look smart that I think you are dumb. I have great respect for capable people on the business side of the house.
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