Anti-Patterns and Mental Downers
Cognitive Biases and Communication Gaps
Most people are familiar with anti-patterns, but this discussion focuses more on the psychological side of working in complex environments.
I’ve personally experienced how poor communication can lead to issues. For example, I once believed there was a mandatory release chat and tried to gather information, only to have my questions in the company chat go unanswered. I was eventually added, but two months late. Similarly, I was forgotten when access was granted to a Shared Google Drive folder, yet everyone assumed I had the shared information because the distribution was taken as obvious.
Perfectionism vs. Conscientiousness
Is perfectionism good for your work? Psychologically, no. The definition points to “suffering from not being enough” and setting “unmeetable high standards.” This mindset is a downer, especially in a complex environment where you’re constantly asked:
- “When will it be ready?”
- “I can’t imagine that this is such a big problem!”
The positive alternative is conscientiousness. To be conscientious means to:
- Work well.
- Gather necessary information.
- Communicate effectively.
- Be gentle and thoughtful.
Focus on the quality of human interactions and the quality of your work; the product will then naturally be good.
Common Developer Biases
Developers often encounter the false consensus effect or pluralistic ignorance.
The most important thing is to know about cognitive biases and to remember that others are humans, too.
Always look on the bright side of life! Evolve! I believe that this is important!