Let me ask you something — Are you better at your craft today than you were a year ago?
Please take a moment to think about it.
If your answer is “not really” or “I’m not sure”, you’re not alone.
Most software engineers hit a point where their growth slows down, sometimes without even noticing.
They code daily, diligently test their delivery, and ensure they meet the timeline — that should be enough for them to become an excellent developer and grow in their career.
But deep down, they’re stuck in the same place.
Why does that happen? If the same work years back resulted in their growth, why is it failing to deliver the result now? Why don’t they improve exponentially even after practicing the same stuff for years?
The answer lies in the question itself — Doing “the same stuff”.
If we continue to do our job the exact same way we did yesterday, we will not improve.
If any of these sound like you, don’t worry. The fact that you’re here means you care about improving. And that’s half the battle.
The Science of Improvement — Deliberate Practice
Consider the taxi drivers. They drive the car for ten or more hours every day, which should give them enough practice to become excellent drivers. But can they compete against a professional racer?
Similarly, we cook our food at home multiple times daily, but we may not be as good as professional chefs.
Improvement in any skill — whether it’s coding, sports, or cooking — requires deliberate effort. It’s not about doing more; it’s about deliberately trying to do better.
Consider a person who practices an instrument daily but never pushes their limits. They won’t suddenly become an excellent musician just by showing up daily.
The same is true for software engineers.
If you’re not actively seeking out challenges or refining your craft, you cannot improve. That means you cannot grow in your career at the desired pace.
And this is where most developers falter. They confuse repetition with growth.
Writing the same kind of code every day might make you faster, but it will not make your implementations smarter or more innovative.
Attending multiple solution discussions or escalation calls without actively participating or paying attention will not improve your skills in these areas.
How You Can Break Free
The tasks you avoid are often the ones that will help you grow the most.
Now you know — you must be intentional about your growth to improve.
Here’s how you can start:
1. Ask Yourself Better Questions
The next time you’re stuck, don’t just dive into code. Take a step back. Ask yourself — Am I solving the right problem? Often, the real issue isn’t in the code — it’s in how you think about the problem. So, try harder to analyze your assumptions and be deliberate in thinking about all the possibilities without jumping to code the first solution that comes to your mind.
2. Seek Out Feedback
It’s easy to avoid feedback because it feels uncomfortable. Implementing the input to change ourselves is even harder. However, feedback is one of the most valuable tools for improvement. Ask your manager or a senior developer, “What’s one thing I could do better?” Then, listen, understand, and be intentional in your actions to use the feedback.
3. Tackle the Scary Stuff
Growth happens when you take on challenges that make you nervous. Say yes to the project that feels out of your league. Volunteer to work on the part of the system no one else wants to touch. Remember, the tasks you avoid are often the ones that will help you grow the most.
4. Find a Mentor
A mentor isn’t just someone who gives you advice. Mentor will push you to see what you’re capable of. They can hold you accountable for your growth and show you the path to achieve them. Find someone whose skills or career you admire and ask for their guidance.
Your Turn - Deliberate Practice
It’s easy to mistake experience for improvement. If you’ve been waiting for your skills to improve naturally, it’s time to change your approach.
Self-improvement is a choice. No one can force you to get better. You have to want it for yourself.
So, here’s the challenge that can help you if you want to improve:
Identify one area where you’ve been slacking off or coasting. It could be learning a new skill, taking up a challenging feature, asking for feedback, or jumping into a difficult call.
Then, commit to doing something about it every day.
You don’t have to make a giant leap. Just take one small step. Know that it will be highly uncomfortable and emotionally tasking at first. But with every attempt, you will start getting comfortable doing it.
Once you feel comfortable with this task, pick up another item you know can help you grow but have avoided all these years. This cycle of intentionally pushing yourself will make you a better developer tomorrow than you are today.
The only thing standing between you and the developer you want to be is your willingness to grow and the deliberate practice towards making it happen.
Like I always say — Your career is your responsibility. Be intentional in taking control of it.
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