6 Lessons I learned while implementing technical RFCs as a decision making tool

A practitioner's guide to implementing technical RFCs as a decision-making tool, sharing six critical lessons learned from real-world experience. Key insights include the importance of starting with simple templates that evolve over time, establishing clear ownership and decision rights from the beginning, setting explicit timelines for feedback to prevent endless discussions, balancing thoroughness with development velocity to avoid analysis paralysis, recognizing that not every decision needs an RFC (defining clear thresholds), and creating a culture where RFCs are seen as collaboration tools rather than bureaucratic hurdles. Engineering leaders will learn practical strategies for avoiding common pitfalls like over-engineering the process, unclear approval chains, and RFC fatigue. The framework emphasizes that successful RFC implementation requires adapting the process to team culture, maintaining lightweight documentation for smaller decisions, and ensuring RFCs generate value through knowledge sharing and better technical decisions rather than just compliance. The lessons reveal that RFCs work best when they facilitate discussion and decision-making rather than gatekeeping progress.