Distracting software engineers is way more harmful than most managers think

The post-COVID-19 work culture has seen an increase in meetings, which has negatively impacted software engineers' ability to engage in "deep work," a concept popularized by Cal Newport that involves focused, undistracted work leading to high productivity and skill improvement. The discrepancy between managers' and engineers' perceptions of meetings exacerbates this problem, with managers often assuming that AI coding tools allow engineers to work effectively in smaller time segments. However, this assumption undermines the flow state necessary for deep work, as frequent context switching and multitasking during meetings reduce productivity and work quality. The article argues that effective meeting management and scheduling, as well as fostering a culture that prioritizes deep work, are crucial for maintaining high performance among engineering teams. It highlights the example of Pylon's engineering team, which minimizes meetings and code reviews to enhance productivity, suggesting that providing substantial uninterrupted time can help engineers achieve better results in a future increasingly reliant on AI.

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