Engineering Advice You Didn't Ask For

Reference article we discussed: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/subtle-art-selective-micromanagement-thiago-ghisi

Article we discussed: https://yosefk.com/blog/people-can-read-their-managers-mind.html

Recap & Discussion of the controversy ignited by the McKinsey article "Yes, You Can Measure Software Developer Productivity."

In the last episode of season 2 of the show, we share how we met and our learnings working on Side Projects and how they have helped us: (i) to grow on our careers, (ii) to make some money online/on the side & (iii) have more optionality in general. Find the remaining episodes of season 2 at https://engineeringadvice.substack.com/ --- We delved deep into our personal experiences doing side hustles, the diverse avenues one can explore outside of traditional employment, the value of a community of like-minded people and the personal and professional growth that can come from it. We also touched on the philosophy of 'small bets', the unpredictability of job security, the power of crafting your own 'personalized tech stack' to ship things quickly and the advantages of using personal experiences and interests as inspiration for side projects. Our conversation revolves around the challenges, inspirations, and lessons from entrepreneurial ventures and side hustles.

The cost of this conflict? Potentially demotivated teams and a maze of missed opportunities. Dive into the debate surrounding team composition: Should they harbor generalist engineers ready to tackle anything or specialists who master their domain? While some argue the merits of starting with jack-of-all-trades engineers, especially for nascent organizations, others counterpoint with the potential pitfalls that might arise in the later stages of development. Ever heard of a "T-shaped engineer"? Discover the unique blend of broad knowledge and specialized expertise they bring to the table, and how such engineers can steer projects in the right direction. The magic number? There's no one-size-fits-all, but there's a sweet spot where collaboration enhances productivity without overwhelming team dynamics. We also venture into the gray areas of team structures, such as the place of SREs and DevOps roles, and whether they seamlessly integrate or stand apart.

We delve deep into the art of management from all angles. We explore myriad scenarios related to peers, managers, and stakeholders. From unpacking the complexities that arise when someone takes an issue about your work performance to a manager without confronting you first to the importance of trust, transparency, and direct communication in such situations, we bring you real-life experiences, hypothetical scenarios, and strategies to establish clear expectations with your superiors. Our discussion goes to the unique challenges presented when half-allocations come into play, with an individual torn between two managers on different projects. We share the inherent difficulties such scenarios bring, with contrasting feedback and conflicting priorities muddying the waters. Venturing into the realm of "SWAT" or "tiger" teams, we dissect the dynamics of assembling high-performing individuals from various departments for high-profile projects. Through shared experiences, we also discuss the value of direct communication, especially when repeated issues arise, and what to do before escalation. Finally, the conversation shifts to resource and budget management. We dissect the challenges posed when expected resources are halved or entirely missing and offer strategies for reallocation and optimization. Touching upon tech debt, we shed light on the importance of its framing in terms of business impact and how to make it resonate with higher-ups.

In this episode, we navigate the multifaceted realm of transitioning into the role of a manager of managers, chronicling diverse personal experiences and insights. The journey unfolds with cautionary tales about the risks of being perpetually thrust into this role without enough authority, alongside accounts of organic growth through handling multiple work streams, and the corresponding risk of losing touch with technical skills. We also delve into the intricacies and challenges inherent in managing managers: the importance of mastering multitasking, handling individual and team performance issues, production problems, the delicate art of managing office politics, overseeing promotion calibrations, and dealing with challenging teams or individuals also comes into focus. The episode also highlights the potential improvement on work-life balance that can come with taking on more strategic responsibilities, and discusses the concept of selective intervention based on area of expertise. Loaded with real-life stories, strategic insights, and candid discussions, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide for those preparing to step into the role of a manager of managers.

In this episode, we dig into the often-overlooked world of product management, its partnership with engineering, overuse of AB testing, and the secret sauce for an effective product trio. We are joined by David Pereira, product leader with over a decade of experience & prolific writer on the subject, where he provided valuable insights into product management roles and skills. David talked about the distinct roles within the product management sphere, the unique challenge product managers often face – influencing without authority – emphasizing the need for setting clear context and constraints, and the importance of a close partnership between product and engineering managers, each contributing to the 'why', 'what', and 'how' of a project. The conversation also delved into various strategies, such as the 'three amigos' model, and how engineers can influence the product strategy effectively. We also talked about managing technical debt, the importance of proactive communication between the engineering and product managers, how to identify and act upon key product metrics, the not so appropriate use of AB testing in the industry today coined by Keyur Hindocha as “Rounded corners and 50 shades of gray. That will take your A/B testing all the way.”, and effective interview strategies for hiring product managers. David shared many personal experiences and anecdotes with practical, real-life implications and applications of effective product management.

In this episode, we delve into the challenging and often daunting journey of transitioning from an individual contributor (IC) to an engineering manager. We share personal stories and experiences about how they navigated this path. From unexpected leadership roles to intentional career planning, we learn about the varied routes that led us to managerial roles. We also discuss key pitfalls to avoid when stepping into management, emphasizing the importance of understanding that others may not approach tasks the same way, enhancing communication skills, and ensuring continuity in absence. Drawing on our collective experiences, we also share valuable lessons from our own managers. We underline the significance of being an empathetic leader, adopting a "trust but verify" attitude, and maintaining a balance between allowing space and time for individual growth while continuously nudging our teams. With several anecdotes and real-life examples, we also shed light on crucial aspects of problem-solving and prevention of potential issues. Reflecting on the recent trend of companies downsizing their management layers, we discuss proactive strategies to solidify one's position. This episode provides a comprehensive guide to individuals who are considering or preparing for a transition into engineering management.

Hello Hello everyone. Welcome back to season two, episode four. We have Louie, Vic, Mitra, Thiago, and myself Keyur back to record another episode. Today we are going to discuss: does your job title really matter? There's a lot of layoffs still going on in the industry, and this is a question that commonly comes up.

In this packed episode, we delve into the world of engineering team productivity and explore the top metrics that truly make a difference.

Is it a necessity to maintain a hands-on approach with code or is it an overreach into the developer's territory? We delve into the roles and intricacies of an Engineering Manager, a Technical Project Manager, a Tech Lead, and a Staff Engineer, and how they all fit into the larger picture of a tech organization. We delve into the why's and why not's — discussing topics like architectural decisions, hands-on coding, code reviews, the risk of micromanagement, and keeping a human approach amidst it all. We consider the impacts of being too technical or not technical enough, and how one can maintain their technical edge without losing sight of their managerial duties. Further, we discuss the evolving skill sets in today's fast-paced tech landscape, the roles of MBAs and communication skills in the formation of an effective engineering manager, the pros and cons of reviewing PRs, and the delicate balance between coding and system design. Finally, we talk about ways to stay technical as an Engineering Manager — from setting up local dev environments, routinely reviewing team PRs, participating in post-mortem reviews, and constantly challenging your team's decisions, and so much more.

Season 2 is finally here! In this episode, we talk about the topic on everyone’s mind — layoffs. The tech industry has seen massive layoffs at small start-ups to FAANG. There’s no such thing as job security anymore. So how should you prepare for a potential layoff at your company? What are the warning signals to look out for? What do you do if you’re laid off, or if you’re safe?

When negotiating your best Tech Offer. What should you consider beyond the money money money? Links: Weighted Decision Matrix: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_03.htm The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth: https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247 Progressions.FYI: https://progression.fyi/

Article about Louie's Career Trajectory by Gergely Orosz on PragmaticEngineer.com: https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/from-engineer-to-director?s=r

Shownotes:   Zain's FAANG Interview Course: https://zainrizvi.gumroad.com/l/insider-advice-on-how-you-can-pass-faang-interviews/ea Zain on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZainRzv

Promotion level 1 to level 2 Projects impact should you go deep or should you go for breadth scope of influence? What is a promotion packet How do you become visible internally without hogging all the oxygen? Opportunity is unevenly distributedHeadquarters vs distributed office Company culture biased towards delivery or operations Finding your sponsor Activating your sponsor Does bias play a role?

Topics:  Avoiding Burnout  Effective Remote Leadership Effective Remote Work Effective Remote Meetings What does it mean to be Async-First & People-First? Remote-First vs. Remote-Friendly   People-First vs. Business-First Recovering from Burnout Shownotes:  Marissas's Course - Avoiding Burnout from Remote Work: https://marissagoldberg.gumroad.com/l/avoidingburnout Marissa's website: https://www.marissagoldberg.com/ Marissa on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mar15sa Adam Grant on Fighting The Zoom Fatigue (Cameras off doesn't reflect disengagement. It helps to prevent burnout and promote attention): https://twitter.com/adammgrant/status/1430882464407474180 Book - The Culture Map: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Map-Breaking-Invisible-Boundaries/dp/1610392507/

Topics: - Teams hiring juniors     - How important is it to hire juniors? - How do junior engineers get experience - What should ideal team look like - How do evaluate the company for you? - Expectations as a junior engineer     - Contributions first 90 - How to onboard junior vs senior - Is Bootcamp a valid path? Shownotes: https://www.crunchbase.com/ https://github.com/tBaxter/questions-for-employers https://github.com/lkostrowski/job-interview-questions-to-ask-companies