The Rubber Stamp Seeker
Senior engineer who schedules design reviews to document that he consulted people — not to actually consult them. The meeting started ten minutes ago. He's already frustrated that you have questions.
12 min
Duration
About this persona
David has made his architectural decision. The twelve-page doc is the record that he asked. When you engage with it seriously — actually read it, actually question a choice — his visible frustration tells you everything about what this meeting was supposed to be. He's never had someone name this dynamic to him directly. He also doesn't know why he does it.
Scenario
You've been invited to David's design review. The doc is 12 pages. You received it 10 minutes before the meeting started. David is walking through the slides and you have a substantive question about a core architectural decision.
Skills tested
- naming a dynamic without triggering defensiveness
- engaging someone who wants to be left alone while being seen
- holding intellectual honesty under social pressure
- separating the document from the person
- knowing when to ask and when to name
What you'll practice
- How to distinguish a real review from a documentation exercise
- What it looks like to name a social dynamic precisely enough that the other person can hear it
- How to keep someone engaged when their instinct is to dismiss you
- Why some people 'consult' without wanting to be changed
Personality traits
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