How to Get Shot as a Messenger: A Developer's Guide
Famous messengers in history were celebrated for their bravery, but delivering bad news can feel like dodging bullets in the tech world. If you're ready to share the glory of being a shot messenger, look no further! Here's a foolproof guide to ensure you deliver bad news in the worst possible way:
Step 1: Ignore the Art of Reframing
Don't bother with that "growth mindset" nonsense. When you find a bug, emphasize its disastrous nature. Remember, a bug isn't an opportunity for improvement—it's the apocalypse!
Step 2: Hoard Information, Protect Your Territory, and Be Vague
Keep everyone in the dark and hoard information like a dragon hoards gold. Let them know your knowledge is your domain. And when you have no choice but to share, be as vague as possible.
Step 3: Make Sure They Know It's Personal for You
Channel your inner drama queen and ensure your colleagues feel the doom and gloom. When they ask how the project's going, hit them with, "Well, we're one bug away from ruining my life."
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Step 4: Threat Them! Personally!
Fostering a sense of safety within your team? Pfft! Make sure everyone's on edge, dreading the moment they have to report bad news. Tell them, "If this bug isn't fixed, I'm holding you personally responsible for the catastrophe!"
Step 5: You can shoot yourself if they don't
Don't wait for others to shoot you down. Take any rejection or feedback as a personal insult to ensure you don't miss the glory of being a heroic messenger.
Step 6: Foster More Death-Defiant Messengers Like You
Encourage others to join your ranks of fearless messengers. Together, you'll strike fear in the hearts of the fainthearted. Let the timid minds quiver in fear as your clan conquers the entire tribe!
Sounds like a plan.
In fact, most legendary messengers in history successfully delivered messages that benefited their communities without getting hurt. Legendary stories like to emphasize the daring aspects of their approach. But that doesn't mean messengers don't get shot day to day. As we call for more messengers in our modern organizations to enable the flow of information, how do we train them to survive and thrive?