⚡ Speed vs. efficiency: why making faster decisions and choosing the right task matter more than speed
Struggling with inefficiency at work? Learn how to choose the right tasks, iterate quickly, and align early to achieve faster, more impactful results. 🚀
In my career, I learned that results come from following the shortest path to completion. I discovered that speed matters only when it is paired with the right choice of action. My work is guided by a simple question: what is the shortest path to finding the truth?
I learned early that working fast on the wrong task does not lead to progress. Instead, I focused on identifying the right thing to work on and confirming my approach through quick iteration.
I'm actively trying to develop strong sense of judgment—a code-sense, as Robert C. Martin calls it—to determine the most effective path. Every decision is made by asking myself, “What is the shortest path toward finding the truth here?”
⭐ In this post you'll learn
How to choose the right task and avoid unnecessary work
How to debug and iterate quickly using logs and targeted tests
How to align with peers and validate ideas early
How to use AI and internal resources to speed up development
🚀 #1 Understanding the shortest path mindset
I believe that knowing what to do is the most important skill. I learned that it is essential to decide quickly and verify the direction before investing more time. My experience taught me that even a small misalignment can lead to a long detour.
There were when I questioned my approach and had to rely on this "code-sense". I remember debugging an issue with an endpoint. I checked the logs and quickly pinpointed the error, proving that a fast, direct approach often reveals the truth faster than prolonged speculation.
I always ask myself, “What is the shortest path toward finding the truth here?” This mindset has helped me avoid unnecessary work and focus on the tasks that truly matter. I ensure that I do not get caught in a cycle of iterating on the wrong ideas, saving time and energy for what counts.
With the example of that endpoint, I was tempted to keep sending requests with different inputs to find what made the output change... But that wansn't the shortest path toward finding the rootcause.
🔧 #2 Strategies for optimizing your workflow
I have adopted practical methods to make my work more efficient. I use principles similar to the critical path method, focusing on the tasks that directly affect my progress. This approach helps me allocate my time wisely and cut through the noise.
The critical path method (CPM) is a project management technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks necessary to complete a project. By determining this critical path, one can pinpoint tasks that directly impact the project's duration. Focusing on these tasks ensures that any delays are minimized, leading to more efficient project completion.
I learned not to overcomplicate my work. Instead of spending days on low-reward tasks, I find ways to unblock my progress. I recall when I managed to send two change requests in parallel. One was for one layer of the code, the other for another. This prevented me from being stuck. It also proves the point of modularizing your code and minimizing coupling between them.
I keep communication direct and timely. I often validate ideas with the person who provided feedback before developing a full solution. I've seen this habit saving many engineers from investing time in work that might need major revisions later. I have seen that clear, upfront alignment leads to faster, more accurate outcomes.
⚙️ #3 Practical approaches for rapid career growth
Fast decision-making and iteration are key to moving ahead in your career. Knowing what to work on is as important as working fast. I use every opportunity to check, test, and confirm my choices. A quick look at the logs or a fast discussion with a colleague can save hours of unnecessary work.
I rely on internal resources and documentation to get answers quickly. Using AI tools has also helped me iterate faster on code reviews and revisions. I remember when I used an AI assistant to find the commands I had to run in our database to verify an index was unused and we could drop it, all within a single hour of work. I could have analyzed our read patterns checking all our code to understand if an index in that column was useful... but that wasn't the shortest path toward the truth.
By focusing on actions that directly lead to completion, I have managed to avoid getting bogged down by low-reward tasks. Every step I take is measured by its ability to move me closer to the final goal, a principle that has accelerated my career growth.
🎯 Conclusion
The shortest path to completion is not about taking shortcuts but about choosing the right actions quickly. I have learned that clarity in decision-making, fast iteration, and timely feedback are the building blocks of effective work.
My journey taught me that when I trust my code-sense and confirm my ideas early, I can avoid unnecessary detours. If you are worried about not having a good code-sense, I can tell you the only way to develop this intuition is by using it. This approach has allowed me to tackle complex challenges with precision and speed.
I encourage you to examine your own workflow and identify the tasks that truly matter. Experiment with fast feedback, direct communication, and the use of AI tools. Focus on the shortest path to completion, and you may find that career growth comes faster than expected.
Why would you take a detour when you have to finish your work and deliver as much as possible?
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The endpoint debugging story hit home.
How often do we brute-force our way through problems when a quick log check would've done it?
Made me wonder: how much time do we lose solving the wrong problem really well?
Thanks for the mention, Fran.
Don’t be afraid to stop. Sometimes the smartest move is hitting pause and rethinking the goal. Great read!