Top quality you should possess as a developer or any employee for a good career
When your engineering manager emphasizes “ownership,” they’re referring to a developer’s commitment to taking full responsibility for their work and outcomes. Ownership in this context goes beyond just completing tasks; it’s about caring deeply for the success of what you’re working on as if you “own” the project or feature. Here’s what ownership entails and why it’s so valuable:
1. Responsibility and Accountability
- Definition: Ownership means being accountable for your work from start to finish. It’s about not just writing code but ensuring it meets quality standards, is well-tested, and is maintainable.
- In Practice: If something goes wrong, a developer who takes ownership doesn’t point fingers but instead seeks to understand the issue and address it proactively.
2. Proactive Problem-Solving
- Definition: Taking ownership includes foreseeing potential issues, actively seeking improvements, and fixing bugs — even ones you didn’t create — if they impact the project.
- In Practice: For example, if there’s an inefficiency in the code or a UX flaw, a developer with ownership would raise it, suggest improvements, and often go beyond their strict role to implement solutions.
3. Commitment to Quality
- Definition: Ownership is about taking pride in the quality of your work, ensuring you’re delivering the best version you can, and being invested in the final result rather than just “finishing the task.”
- In Practice: A developer with ownership won’t submit code they know could be improved. Instead, they’ll go the extra mile to polish it, knowing it impacts the team and project.
4. Thinking Long-Term
- Definition: Ownership means seeing the code or project through a wider lens, understanding how it fits within the company’s broader goals, and considering future maintenance and scalability.
- In Practice: This long-term mindset means developers consider how their choices affect others. They document their work, make sure code is clean and clear, and avoid “quick fixes” that could cause problems later.
5. Initiative and Leadership
- Definition: Ownership also involves taking initiative without waiting for detailed instructions on every task. You step up, ask questions, clarify expectations, and even support team members when needed.
- In Practice: Developers who demonstrate ownership might propose new ideas, automate repetitive tasks, or volunteer for challenging projects.
Why Managers Value Ownership
For managers, developers who show ownership make projects smoother and more efficient. It means the manager doesn’t have to micromanage or double-check each task because they trust that the developer is committed to delivering high-quality results. Ownership is also contagious — when one person takes responsibility, it sets a standard and can lift the whole team.
In a nutshell, ownership is about treating your work like it’s your own project, going beyond minimum expectations, and striving to make it successful for everyone involved.
