Comment by tekkk | Hacker News Reader

Comment by tekkk | Hacker News Reader

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>Hey Jane, I need your input on how to prioritize my current work. Can you provide guidance on where I should focus?

>Bug XYZ was assigned to me and it's taking longer to complete because we have a dependency on Vendor ABC completing a change to their web service. This is impacting the commitment to my team on Feature 123 because we are near the end of our sprint.

>Lemme know.

Pss, amateur. That's way too many words.

Hi Jane,

should I keep fixing bug XYZ or focus on feature 123? Vendor ABC is taking longer than we thought to fix their stuff.

Bill

And sometimes add a smiley so they know you're not made of circuits yourself too.

Use this as an opportunity to 'manage up'. Frame your email to recommend the decision you'd make. In the example below, you know what I would do with no executive decision, and the response I do get can be a one word yes/no reply.

Jane, should I keep fixing bug XYZ? Im blocked by Vendor ABC.

I can work on Feature 123.

I feel like this only works if you already have a good manager. A bad one will just say 'both' and then keep complaining that they aren't both done.

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission:

Hi Jane,

I'm focusing on feature 123 since XYZ is blocked by ABC.

-A

Nailed it.

even better:

    Jane, I'm focusing on feature 123 since XYZ is blocked by ABC.

or since email already has the address header:

    TO: Jane Janeson <jane.janeson@initech.com>
    SUBJECT: APPROVE: I'm focusing on feature 123 since XYZ is blocked by ABC. EOM

Even Worf doesn't go that far https://twitter.com/WorfEmail

> And sometimes add a smiley so they know you're not made of circuits yourself too.

That's where I always forget to do :) :( :)

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