The High Cost of Being Low Maintenance

Overview
The article reflects on how adopting a low-maintenance mindset at work can silently cost individuals and teams, describing the emotional calculations behind avoiding help, the fear of indebtedness, and cultural pressures that discourage asking for support.

Key Takeaways

• Low-maintenance behavior often stems from a survival mechanism that equates invisibility with safety.
• Fear of being a burden or incurring debt can prevent people from seeking needed assistance.
• Cultural and gender biases influence how requests for help are perceived and judged.
• Encouraging open collaboration reduces hidden costs and improves team performance.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers and technical leaders looking to foster psychological safety.
• Individual contributors who struggle with asking for help.
• Diversity and inclusion advocates addressing bias in support dynamics.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• None