Your team member is defying coding guidelines. How can you navigate this tricky situation with diplomacy?

Open Dialogue: Begin with an open and respectful dialogue. Approach the team member privately to discuss the observed deviations from the coding guidelines. Frame the conversation in a non-confrontational manner, focusing on understanding their perspective and the reasons behind their actions. This initial discussion should be a two-way conversation where the team member feels heard and valued. By fostering an open dialogue, you establish a foundation of trust and cooperation, which is crucial for addressing the issue diplomatically and effectively.

Addressing a team member defying coding guidelines diplomatically involves starting with a private conversation to understand their perspective and reasons. Emphasize the importance of adhering to coding standards for maintaining code quality, facilitating collaboration, and ensuring project success. Highlight any specific problems their non-compliance has caused and discuss how following the guidelines can prevent such issues. Encourage their input on the guidelines, fostering a sense of ownership and involvement. Maintain a respectful and supportive tone, focusing on team goals and offering additional support or training if needed to help them align with the standards.

Provide Education: Often, deviations from guidelines stem from a lack of understanding or awareness. Organize a refresher session on the coding standards and their importance in maintaining code quality, consistency, and efficiency. Provide specific examples and explain how adhering to these guidelines benefits the project and the team. Offer resources such as documentation, online courses, or workshops to help reinforce these principles. Education empowers the team member with the knowledge they need to follow the guidelines correctly and confidently.

Review Process: Implement a peer review process if one is not already in place. Regular code reviews encourage adherence to guidelines and provide an opportunity for constructive feedback. During reviews, emphasize the importance of following the established coding standards and offer specific suggestions for improvement. This collaborative approach not only helps identify and correct deviations but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and mutual support. Regular reviews ensure that guidelines are consistently applied across the team.

Adjust Guidelines: Review the coding guidelines themselves to ensure they are practical and up-to-date. Sometimes, rigid or outdated guidelines may lead to defiance. Involve the team in this review process to gather feedback and suggestions for improvement. This collaborative effort can help identify any unrealistic or cumbersome requirements and adjust them accordingly. Ensuring that guidelines are relevant and practical increases the likelihood of compliance and fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among team members.

Positive Reinforcement Acknowledge and reward adherence to coding guidelines. Recognize team members who consistently follow best practices through positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise, team shout-outs, or small rewards. Highlighting these behaviors sets a positive example and motivates others to comply. Positive reinforcement can be more effective than punitive measures in encouraging desired behavior. It fosters a supportive environment where team members feel appreciated and motivated to maintain high standards.

I would recommend to make a bootcamp with some expert in Open Source development as RedHat, Linux or Eclipse Foundation to define the best practices, the benefits and motivation of coding guidelines and to promote their training. In Libelium we did it as part of the Social Innovation of Redhat and it was really relevant, really making a great change in the improvement of the methodology.