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So, how can we counter this, without magically changing human nature? One technique that's worked for me is something I call The Difficulty Anchor.
There are 3 phases to The Difficulty Anchor: Before you work on a project, during, and after.
There are 3 phases to The Difficulty Anchor: Before you work on a project, during, and after.
Before:
I find a Very Smart Person(tm) that is known to be both a hard grader, and dispassionately objective. Yes, we're all smart. Here, have a cookie.
But by VSP, I mean someone with organizational credibility. That ain't you. Sorry.
I find a Very Smart Person(tm) that is known to be both a hard grader, and dispassionately objective. Yes, we're all smart. Here, have a cookie.
But by VSP, I mean someone with organizational credibility. That ain't you. Sorry.
Weird: This person is often someone that doesn't even see themselves as an advocate for D&I. They often don't even see themselves as friendly or approachable people.
Think busy Principals and Members of the Technical Staff that give no BS, actionable design review feedback.
Think busy Principals and Members of the Technical Staff that give no BS, actionable design review feedback.
This person with organizational credibility is my Anchor. 
I ask them a ton of newbie questions before project setup, most of which I already know the answer to. Things like,
* Why is this hard?
* Why did this fail the last time?
* Can't we just [naive solution]?
I ask them a ton of newbie questions before project setup, most of which I already know the answer to. Things like,
* Why is this hard?
* Why did this fail the last time?
* Can't we just [naive solution]?
Anchors are pretty sharp, so they see what I'm doing very quickly. Some cut it short and just say, "Cut your sh*t Mekka. I get it. It's hard. So what's your plan?"
I explain the plan in great detail.
I explain the plan in great detail.
The Anchor and I come to an understanding of how complex this problem really is. Again, complexity of the _problem_, not complexity of the _solution_. I like simple solutions to complex problems.
This brings us to "During."
This brings us to "During."
During:
I make sure to keep detailed notes of my specific contributions.
For me, that entails a lot of non-conventional wisdom about massive scale Commerce systems, and finding the 1 or 2 things that really matter(tm), and intentionally ignoring the other 98 or 99 distractions.
I make sure to keep detailed notes of my specific contributions.
For me, that entails a lot of non-conventional wisdom about massive scale Commerce systems, and finding the 1 or 2 things that really matter(tm), and intentionally ignoring the other 98 or 99 distractions.
It's important to have artifacts documenting my decisions and designs, separate from those of others.
Do not skip this step.
Pull request comments are not enough.
Do not skip this step!
Email threads are not enough.
Don't skip!!!
This is defense against credit shedding.
Do not skip this step.
Pull request comments are not enough.
Do not skip this step!
Email threads are not enough.
Don't skip!!!
This is defense against credit shedding.
Then comes the most important part of During:
Do good work. No excuses. Do the damn thing.
Good work means collaborative and communicative.
It means adaptable to changing conditions.
It means Product Excellence. It means not hurting your friends in UX, TPM, SRE, or Eng Prod.
Do good work. No excuses. Do the damn thing.
Good work means collaborative and communicative.
It means adaptable to changing conditions.
It means Product Excellence. It means not hurting your friends in UX, TPM, SRE, or Eng Prod.
I keep my anchor informed of all progress, good, and bad. Transparency is key. Transparency is trust. Don't hide bad news.
You are starting from a trust deficit. Again, sorry.
You are starting from a trust deficit. Again, sorry.
After:
After the launch, all the same things happen. Lots of celebrations at first, but then the attempts to devalue...
At this point, it would be impossible for me to make a case for my contributions...
I need an ally to "lend privilege."
After the launch, all the same things happen. Lots of celebrations at first, but then the attempts to devalue...
At this point, it would be impossible for me to make a case for my contributions...
I need an ally to "lend privilege."
And I have an ally! My Anchor!
The perceived difficulty or impact of the project can't move post-fact because it's anchored.
I've never even had to ask an Anchor to make the case for why the work was complex or high value.
The perceived difficulty or impact of the project can't move post-fact because it's anchored.
I've never even had to ask an Anchor to make the case for why the work was complex or high value.
Going back to humans hating to be inconsistent with themselves...
The Anchor is on record saying that this work is complex and high impact, from before the project even kicked off. But now the peanut gallery says that it was easy...
The Anchor is on record saying that this work is complex and high impact, from before the project even kicked off. But now the peanut gallery says that it was easy...
The Anchor rationalizes this inconsistency by either:
a) Admitting that they were mistaken earlier about the difficulty, my contributions, or the impact.
b) Seeing that others are not being objective, and calling it out.
a) Admitting that they were mistaken earlier about the difficulty, my contributions, or the impact.
b) Seeing that others are not being objective, and calling it out.
Choosing a) Is hard!
But that's why it's important to choose an Anchor known for being a hard grader, and being dispassionately objective.
Basically, someone whose ego isn't so big that they can't admit to being wrong.
Someone who demonstrates being publicly self-critical.
But that's why it's important to choose an Anchor known for being a hard grader, and being dispassionately objective.
Basically, someone whose ego isn't so big that they can't admit to being wrong.
Someone who demonstrates being publicly self-critical.
You want peers to know that the anchor feel free to choose a). But, the anchor won't choose a) If you've really done good work.
A well chosen anchor will choose b).
They usually come in unsolicited, flying over the top ropes to shut down any noise devaluing your work.
A well chosen anchor will choose b).
They usually come in unsolicited, flying over the top ropes to shut down any noise devaluing your work.
Yes, this is all a PITA. I used to wonder what I could possibly accomplish in Commerce, and where, to not have to pre-emptively head off devaluing of my work.
We're working on fixing this as an industry. But until then this is a workaround that I've found effective.
We're working on fixing this as an industry. But until then this is a workaround that I've found effective.
