Pick Your Battles: When to Speak Up and When to Let Go
The weekly team meeting is often packed with discussion points. Are you for or against the proposal? Do you want more or less budget for the plan? And while we're at it: should we decide whether this moment in the week is actually a good time for our meeting?
For some topics, I think: I couldn’t care less. Just pick something. I don’t mind. And most of the time, it turns out that the decision has minimal impact on the team or me. But sometimes, a point comes up that makes me sit up straight. A point that, relatively speaking, is much more important. Especially when it comes to a vote and others turn right, while you clearly see that left is the only way to go.
Let me give you an example. I’m a lecturer in the Software Development program, where we immerse students in the world of programming over the course of two years. And you can take "immerse" quite literally: our students start programming from day one and continue for two full years, pretty quickly in development teams as well. That’s how they’ll work after graduation, after all. The (simulated) learning environment is therefore crucial: students must have all the tools they need to carry out their programming tasks properly. Things like good chairs, proper desks, and a dedicated room they can set up as their team’s home base. It’s a prerequisite for this type of education. And that’s not just my opinion, it's echoed by external bodies that assess the quality of our program.
So when the scheduling department decides that each class is only allowed three half-days a week in a classroom, that’s when I stand up. On the one hand, you emphasize how essential the learning environment is, and on the other hand, you cut corners there... I can’t get behind that. To hell with space shortage, you just make it happen.
Okay, okay, rant over. It’s fine. Of course, there are other sides to the story, and of course, we’ll talk this through together. But the moral of the story: know which battles are worth fighting. Use your energy where it's needed most.
Pick your battles.