Margin Call

The junior's Slack message was practically in tears. "Sorry, it's going to take a bit longer."

His estimate had been five. The PM asked, he answered on the spot. The spec is locked. No interruptions, review passes first try, five days, done — or so he thought. It took seven.

There is an invisible currency. I call it credit balance. The larger the organization, the more your standing depends on it. Not technical skill. Not track record. "Give it to that person and it gets done." That trust becomes influence, autonomy, position.

Miss a deadline and your balance drops — instantly. Building it back takes years. Finish early and you earn a reputation: "that person is fast." The balance grows. Same amount of work, but say nine and finish in seven, or say five and take seven. The outcomes are opposite.

I pulled the junior aside. Add margin. Not padding. Predict the worst. The spec will shift. Reviews will bounce. Something urgent will land on your desk. These are not things that might happen. Given enough time, they always do. An estimate that accounts for them is not padding. It is an accurate prediction.

"But won't they think I'm slow?" I get it. I used to think the same. It's the opposite.

He started building buffer into his estimates after that. His credit balance will grow.

Incidentally, credit balance can be lent and borrowed too. I haven't taught him that yet.