Stop Being a Fence-Sitter in Tech Discussions: Own Your Decisions

Senior engineers often avoid committing to decisions in technical discussions, a seemingly cautious approach that the author argues is actually cowardice. The article emphasizes that when a team needs to make a choice, even with only 55% confidence, the most knowledgeable engineer should take responsibility and offer a judgment. This prevents less experienced engineers from proposing poor solutions and allows management to work more efficiently. The author stresses that management is usually forgiving of technical errors, as decision-making inherently involves uncertainty. However, consistently incorrect judgments erode credibility. The article concludes that while avoiding commitment is justifiable in environments lacking trust, in most situations, taking ownership and making bold decisions is a hallmark of a strong engineer.