Episode 479: Contractors to the rescue and dinged for delay

In this episode of Soft Skills Engineering, Jamison and Dave address listener questions, offering advice and sharing personal experiences. The first question tackles the challenge of managing a project behind schedule with a burnt-out team and the complications of introducing contractors, referencing the Mythical Man-Month concept and suggesting strategies for scope management and team motivation. The second question explores how to handle a negative performance review resulting from delays in a compliance process, emphasizing the importance of managing up, proactive communication with managers, and reframing the situation to identify potential improvements. Both hosts commit to improving their own "managing up" skills, sharing a relevant personal anecdote.