Engineering Management for the Rest of Us

by Sarah Drasner

Psychologists suggest a ratio of negative to positive interaction that humans can tolerate before they feel demoralized. This ratio, called the “Losada coefficient,”2 suggests a 2.9 times positive-to-negative interaction (i.e. praises: reproach), with a 6:1 ratio for optimal happiness.

Your job is to be interruption-driven so your team can stay focus-driven.