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This can change dramatically based on the environment too. I have trouble with being dishonest, and prefer a straightforward style when giving and receiving both praise and critical feedback. I started my career at Google, where this worked fine. But when I worked at a startup full of people insecure about their ability to be an engineer, it was a terrible culture fit and I had to adapt heavily (at the cost of productivity: it took me five whole minutes of conversation once to figure out that the guy I was talking to wasn't failing to understand the problem with his code, he just disliked the fact that I referred to it as a bug)

I went back to working at a company full of in-demand folks who were secure in their ability, and my style immediately works smoothly again.



> I started my career at Google, where this worked fine. But > when I worked at a startup full of people insecure about > their ability to be an engineer, it was a terrible culture > fit and I had to adapt heavily

Also experienced this. Was very surprised.




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