Periagoge
Scenario

How to navigate technical authority conflicts in engineering teams

Our aerospace team has this pattern where the senior engineers always defer to Mark on thermal analysis decisions because he's been here longest, but his methods are outdated and we're getting suboptimal results on our propulsion systems. Everyone knows it but no one wants to challenge him directly, and I'm stuck because I'm the technical lead but not his manager.

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

The team's respect for seniority is preventing necessary technical evolution and creating a leadership vacuum.

Your guide for this
Aurelius
Aurelius works with people navigating exactly this kind of situation.
Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Engineering — Mechanical & Aerospace?”

Peri

Peri can explain why this happens, help you decide if this is the right situation for you, and point toward the right journey or coach.

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.