You’ve probably seen this phenomenon before, where it’s easier to cope with a subpar situation rather than fix it or pick an alternative? Region-beta paradox. I wish there was a better name.

There’s a lot of places this shows up in a software team:

• Using shitty software because it’s not worth switching off (looking at you, Jira).
• A teammate who everyone knows is painful to work with, but not so bad that anyone thinks to tell them.
• Not complaining about mildly bad situations, allowing them to fester over time.

Some solutions:

• Complain loudly. (Biggest red flag to me in an organization is when people praise each other for not complaining.)
• Trying new things, for their own sake. Make people feel like change is normal rather than bullshit.
• Valuing improvement. (This is a hard one, and I still haven’t mastered it. But I know it’s possible.)