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Ask HN: My Lead Is Stupid. What Should I Do?

4 points by artundtechnik ↗ HN
I am in a software company startup with about 200 engineers. I am in team of 6 people. In every engineering team, there will be always an engineer lead. The case is, my lead is stupid. He does not design well. He does not know good code. Even more, he can't write a test. I always ask him to review the design, the code, to other coworker (other than him), but he always refuses that (he says "Well this is good enough, no need for other to review me").

The result? It ends up to, I maintain his poor code and design. Longer development process (Since there is no test!), etc.

What should i do? I want to tell this to the-lead-of-all-engineer-lead, but first of all i want to find out the best way how to tell this to him (the lead of all engineer leads).

5 comments

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facorreia
1. Make friends with developers in other teams. 2. Try to get transferred to their team.
bejuizb
This! is the most practical and feasible solution. But, it also means that you take the path with least resistance.

If OP really cares about the company/product, he would do this, and then openly talk to the lead about his shortcomings in a fair and constructive manner and resolve the issue.

artundtechnik
I never think the solution would be this easy. Thanks! I will try to request team rotation.
facorreia
Above all, what I mean is that complaining about your boss to your boss' boss won't make you look good to either of them.
dummy7953
Well, you're always going to find people with different ability levels than yourself. So learning how to best deal with these issues will help your career.

I'm almost certain people refuse to allow others to review their code because of fear of embarrassment or loss of face. Perhaps when you find something you can to do improve his code, you can show it to him and sell it as something that will: 1. make his life easier, 2. impress his boss.