Managing Code Review Anxiety
A Guide to Reducing Stress and Improving Feedback
Have you ever experienced anxiety around code reviews? If so, you're not alone. Many developers feel nervous or stressed when giving or receiving feedback on their code. This is what Carol Lee, PhD, Kirsten Foster-Marks, and Cat Hicks, PhD call Code Review Anxiety, and they've written a paper and a comprehensive workbook to help us all manage it more effectively. In this article, I want to give you an overview of the steps it takes to tackle code review anxiety.
What is Code Review Anxiety?
Code Review Anxiety is the fear of judgment, criticism, and negative evaluation during code reviews. Whether you’re the one reviewing or being reviewed, this anxiety can lead to stress and avoidance. Code review anxiety doesn’t just affect junior developers. Senior developers often face pressure to "live up to" their experience, which can create its own set of challenges and stress.
While it’s common to feel nervous, it’s essential to recognize that code reviews are not meant to be a personal attack but a way to improve and grow as developers.
Why Managing Code Review Anxiety Matters
Left unchecked, this anxiety can affect the quality of your code review feedback, how you respond to code review comments, and your willingness to engage in code reviews. Instead of fostering growth and learning, it can lead to frustration, defensiveness, and avoidance—none of which help anyone. Thus, feeling anxious can have a long-lasting negative effect on your relationships with your colleagues and negatively influence team dynamics and culture.
That’s why it’s crucial to manage code review anxiety. The good news is there are actionable steps you can take to do just that.
Steps to Manage Code Review Anxiety
Create Awareness. The first step to reducing code review anxiety is being aware of it. Recognize the specific situations that trigger your anxiety. Are you worried about making mistakes or receiving harsh feedback? Once you identify your fears around code reviews, you’re already on the path to managing them.
Reduce Physiological Arousal When you feel anxious, your body reacts. High cortisol levels, rapid breathing, and muscle tension are common responses to stress. To counter this, it’s important to calm your body. Simple techniques like deep breathing, muscle relaxation, or a workout (hello, jumping jacks!) can help you lower stress and regain a sense of calm before a review.
Challenge Biased Thinking What beliefs do you have about yourself or your colleagues that increase your anxiety around code reviews? Maybe you think you’re not skilled enough or that others will judge you harshly. These are often biased or exaggerated thoughts like "I'm not good enough.". By acknowledging them and challenging their validity, you can see them for what they are—unfounded fears.
Replace Negative Thoughts with Balanced Ones Once you’ve identified negative thoughts, replace them with more realistic and balanced ones. For instance, if you’re thinking, “I’m not good enough,” challenge it by asking, “Good enough for what?” "Good enough to do your job?!" Very likely, you are good enough to do your job. So, a better thought might be, “I’m learning and improving with each review,” which is both true and empowering.
Proactively Engage in Code Reviews After you have gone through all the other steps, it's time to do more code reviews. Yes, you read that right. One of the best ways to overcome fear is by facing it. The more you avoid code reviews, the more anxiety grows. Instead, proactively engage in them. Ask for feedback and be specific about what kind of input you’re looking for. When giving feedback, don’t shy away from making suggestions, but ensure you do it respectfully and constructively.
Why This Process Works
Each step plays a role in gradually reducing the anxiety associated with code reviews. By being aware of your fears, reducing their physical impact, challenging negative thoughts, and proactively engaging in reviews, you build resilience and confidence. Over time, this reduces the stress you associate with code reviews and transforms them into a productive, learning-oriented process.
Take Control of Your Code Review Experience
Remember, nobody is perfect, and mistakes are part of the learning process. The key is to approach code reviews with a growth mindset and see them as opportunities for development, not judgment.
Want to learn more about managing code review anxiety? Carol Lee and Kirsten Foster-Marks have explained everything in great detail in their code review anxiety workbook.