Navigating storms

Change is in the air, some of it expected, some not.

Teams are shifting.
Priorities are being rewritten.

And at the same time, a powerful new wave is approaching: AI is transforming how we build, how we work, and what we’re expected to know.

It’s thrilling.
It’s disorienting.
And it’s a lot to work through.

In times like these, it’s easy to freeze up or drift.

Here’s what I’m sharing with my team.

1. Control what you can
When visibility is low, focus on sure footing. Prioritize work that aligns with what the team and company need most right now. Focus on what matters. Don’t wait for someone to hand you a north star. Go ask.

2. Communicate more, not less
Keep your manager in the loop, raise flags early, and be clear about where you’re headed. Even a simple “I’m thinking of picking this up next, does that sound right?” helps. It shows initiative. Participate. Be present. Demo what you’ve built when there’s an opportunity (applies to fancy UX, and to hard queries to troubleshoot a livesite issue).

3. Stay adaptable
Sometimes, the project you’re most excited about gets paused. That sucks. But being the person who can jump into new areas, help stabilize another system, or coach someone else — that’s important. It’s not about heroics; it’s about flexibility and adding value.

4. Invest in yourself
Keep learning, not just for your resume, but because learning sharpens your edge when the fog lifts. Learning compounds, so even small gains add up.

5. Don’t take it personally
Changes that impact you aren’t always about you. They’re often about shifting strategies, changing priorities, and the messy reality of business. Your value hasn’t changed. Your future is still yours to shape.

6. Support each other
We remember who stood with us when things were rough. A kind email, Teams, or a LinkedIn message. A quick call. Offering to onboard someone new even when you’re still reeling. These small things become part of the team’s DNA. And they matter more than ever.

And if you’re feeling truly stuck — blocked, hopeless, unsure — sometimes the most courageous thing is to move. That might mean exploring a new project, a different team, or even a role elsewhere. But don’t do it alone. Talk with your manager. Share how you’re feeling and what you’re looking for. More often than not, they want to help.

And if a move is the right call, make it thoughtfully. Don’t burn bridges. It’s a small world, and how you leave one chapter often shapes how the next one begins.

You owe it to yourself to find, or create, a space where you can thrive. And if you’re a senior engineer, that responsibility extends further. Others will look to you for cues on how to navigate uncertainty. Use that influence to create stability: organize a learning session, mentor someone newer. Help build the kind of environment you would want to grow in.

Storms come. And they pass. What we do in them defines how we emerge.

Let’s look out for each other. Let’s keep building. 🚀