Ownership and Accountability

Comparing Level 1 and Level 2

Level 1

Level 2

Description

At Level 1, ownership is focused on completing assigned tasks. Engineers at this stage are often early in their careers or new to the team. They concentrate on execution but may not yet grasp the broader implications of their work. The mindset is often: "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it." This is natural and expected. The goal at this stage is to develop reliability, learn team norms, and build confidence.

Description

At Level 2, engineers begin to take full responsibility for their own work—not just the code, but the outcome. They understand that delivery doesn't end at "code complete" and are accountable for communicating progress, clarifying expectations, and seeing their work through deployment. The mindset becomes: "This is my responsibility—I'll see it through and keep others in the loop." These engineers are dependable and developing awareness of how their actions affect the team and product.

Key Behaviors

  • •
    Completes assigned tasks when scoped and supported
  • •
    Asks clarifying questions when unsure
  • •
    Follows instructions and process conventions
  • •
    Is responsive to feedback and willing to improve
  • •
    Focuses on immediate task completion rather than broader context

Key Behaviors

  • •
    Proactively communicates progress, delays, or blockers
  • •
    Consistently follows through on commitments without reminders
  • •
    Confirms the definition of "done" before starting work
  • •
    Ensures features are delivered fully (reviewed, tested, merged, shipped)
  • •
    Begins to anticipate and raise potential risks or edge cases
  • •
    Shows consideration for how their work impacts others on the team

Common Struggles

  • May confuse task completion with delivery (e.g., stops at "code complete")
  • Requires reminders to follow through or provide updates
  • Waits to be assigned work rather than seeking it
  • May not understand how delays or missed details affect others
  • Hesitant to take initiative for fear of overstepping

Common Struggles

  • May still focus too narrowly on assigned scope without considering broader needs
  • Sometimes lacks follow-through across multiple priorities
  • Hesitates to speak up when overloaded or blocked
  • Can struggle to balance speed with completeness
  • May assume others will catch or fix final-mile issues

Success Indicators

  • Show up reliably and complete scoped work
  • Begin to understand the definition of "done" beyond just writing code
  • Ask good questions that demonstrate curiosity and learning
  • Receive and act on feedback positively
  • Build habits that support personal accountability

Success Indicators

  • Own their tasks end-to-end without hand-holding
  • Communicate clearly, early, and often
  • Demonstrate increasing self-direction and awareness of impact
  • Handle basic project tracking and delivery autonomously
  • Are seen as dependable by peers and managers

Mindset Shift

From:

"I finish what I'm asked to do."

To:

"I take responsibility for following through fully and being someone others can count on."

Mindset Shift

From:

"I own my work."

To:

"I'm responsible for outcomes, not just outputs."

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • What happens if I don't follow through?
  • What can I do to unblock myself?
  • How can I make sure I don't just finish code, but deliver results?

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Is this work truly complete from a product and user perspective?
  • How does my work affect others across engineering, design, QA, and support?
  • Can I spot and address risks before they become problems?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Follow through completely—ensure work is merged, deployed, and communicated
  • 2
    Update others without being asked—share progress, blockers, and changes
  • 3
    Ask clarifying questions about task scope and delivery expectations
  • 4
    Track your own work; don't rely on others to manage your task list

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Take initiative in surfacing blockers or risks early
  • 2
    Follow up post-deployment to ensure features are working as expected
  • 3
    Begin identifying improvements in delivery or handoff processes
  • 4
    Maintain clear documentation or notes around work that others rely on
  • 5
    Offer support or reviews to teammates without being prompted

Seek Feedback

  • "How dependable am I with follow-through?"
  • "Do you feel confident when you assign me work?"
  • "Is there anything I'm missing in delivery or handoff?"

Seek Feedback

  • "What would make me more trustworthy with bigger or more complex work?"
  • "Do I close the loop well when I own something?"
  • "Are there areas where I could be more proactive or communicative?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You rarely need reminders to follow through
  • You communicate proactively with your team
  • You understand and deliver the full definition of "done"
  • Teammates and managers express confidence in your reliability

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You're trusted to take on medium-sized projects independently
  • You actively close the loop from task assignment to delivery and documentation
  • You're invited into conversations earlier due to your reliability
  • You help smooth the path for others by clarifying or cleaning up loose ends

Focus Summary

  • Start small
  • Be dependable
  • Ask good questions
  • Deliver fully

Level 1 is foundational. It's where habits of dependability are built. You don't have to know all the answers yet—but you can earn trust by consistently following through. That's what begins to set you apart.

Focus Summary

  • Be clear
  • Be accountable
  • Think beyond the ticket

Level 2 engineers prove they can be trusted with meaningful work. They begin to see their role not just as a coder, but as someone who contributes to successful outcomes.