Developer Diversity: Exploring 50 Shades of the RnD team

Understanding the dynamic world of RnD can be that special sauce that makes a winning team

Before I dive in, I want to take a moment to share a personal note. The world has been fairly chaotic recently and I have been struggling to get back into writing. I want to thank

Tom Even

for his inspiring post that pushed me to do it. Thank you man.

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As a product manager , I get to work with a bunch of creative minds like designers, developers, and UX writers. At times it is like navigating a maze while juggling flaming torches. Each one’s got their groove, and syncing up can be a bit like herding cats on roller skates.

Diving into different worlds, from startups to B2C and now the growth-focused B2B scene, I’ve met a wild assortment of developers, each with their own cool quirks.

The breakdown

The Doubter

Have you ever met someone who questions everything, like they’re writing a thesis on why the sky is blue? That’s the skeptic. But once they’re on board, magic happens. Share your prep work and results—transparency is their secret sauce.

The "Business-Minded"

Picture a rare unicorn in a field of horses—that’s this kind of dev. They’re coding superheroes who also get the biz side. Hard to find, but man, are they worth it. They spot gaps that could mess with the business impact of code.

The "Get Things Done"

These folks are your go-to in a crisis. They’re like the pit crew in an F1 race—fast, efficient, and always there. But speed comes with a price tag: tech debt and sometimes hastily written code. Still, having one on your team? Pure gold.

The Cautious one

Precision is their middle name. But with great care comes slower delivery. They don’t handle pressure too well, so balance them out with the team. Their attention to detail and code reviews are top-notch, though.

The reckless

Ever had a hire that seemed perfect but turned out to be... not so much? That’s the reckless type. They fill in the gaps in their heads, leading to a mismatch between expectations and reality. Extra meetings and check-ins can keep them on track.

The "Tough Cookie" 

To them, it’s either black or white, no in-between. Flexibility isn’t their thing, but they nail down planned tasks like nobody’s business. They’re also great at spotting what the rest of us might miss.

What does it take to be a growth developer?

From my past few years of working in growth, I have been taken aback at how unique growth developers are. They’re a spicy mix of these types. Their work is different from the average “product developer”. Here are a few tasks that the great growth developers do

- Testing, lots and lots of testing! They’re all about embracing the chaos of imperfect code for the sake of growth experiments.

- Exploring new territories. As a part of the growth team they will have to roam the system, learning new code areas and working in them to drive impact.

- They relate to the business and team KPIs. The more they know, the more the team unites and makes a real impact. They realize the impact the team drives and love seeing it shape the company’s growth.

- They’ve got that startup vibe—fast, understanding the why’s and how’s. At times it is even good to have a resident skeptic to keep everyone alert.

Key takeaways

In the work world, recognizing and embracing developer’s diverse strengths is key to fostering a unified team environment. Understanding the mix of personalities within your team is crucial for optimal collaboration. Specifically for growth teams, hiring developers with essential traits is vital for success.