Measure what matters, and be careful what you measure
When working with software engineers, try to create metrics that still work when they are gamed … because they will be gamed
managing
AI Didn’t Change the Job. It Revealed It.
The code was always the easy part. Opendate’s incoming CTO Matt Brown on the work AI can’t do for you, and why the engineers who thrive were never really in the business of writing software.
How engineering works at Dribbble
Episode one of “The Hallway Track” features a conversation with Patrick Byrne of Dribbble
Stop Hogging the Ball
You got promoted because you were a great engineer. Now every time you grab the exciting work, you’re robbing your team of an opportunity to grow — and telling them you don’t trust them to do it.
Give problems, not solutions
Don’t give engineers solutions. Give them problems.
Even if you’ve already solved it. Even if you can do it faster and quicker. Even if it seems simple. Even if there’s a time crunch.
Your Manager Isn’t Difficult. She’s Under Extra Scrutiny.
Managing up requires recognizing the context of the person managing you. And in tech, gender often plays a large role.
Add retrospectives to your arsenal
Group retrospectives are crucial in helping your team focus on ways to improve.
Selling technical debt to the business
Code maintenance may be a better way to think of technical debt.
Busy is an information dam
If you seem too busy for your team, problems may boil over before you can address them.
One-on-ones are for people, not status updates
Use 1:1 meetings to create a human connection, not for status updates.