Why You Need a “WTF Notebook”

Metadata

• Author: Simpler Machines
• Full Title: Why You Need a “WTF Notebook”
• URL: https://www.simplermachines.com/why-you-need-a-wtf-notebook/

Highlights

Every time I join a new team, I go to the next fresh page, and on top of that page I write: “WTF - [Team Name].” Then I make a note every time I run into something that makes me go “wtf,” and a task every time I come up with something I want to change. For two weeks, that’s all I do. I just write it down. I don’t tell the team everything that I think they’re doing wrong. I don’t show up at retro with all the stuff I think they need to change. I just watch, and listen, and I write down everything that seems deeply weird. (View Highlight)

Once I’ve got a nice big list, I start crossing things off. There are four reasons at this point that I might cross off something I’ve put on that list: 1. There’s actually a good reason for it 2. The team is already working on a fix 3. The team doesn’t care about it 4. It’s really easy to fix (View Highlight)