61–70 of 132 posts
Why do articles like these make it seem like it was written by a guy targeted by an engineering manager? "Like if I were in his shoe, this is how I would treat myself."
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The #1 job of a manager (in all fields) is to keep his people working. It doesn't matter if it is engineering, manufacturing or the local burger joint. A managers #1 job is to keep his people working.
What to do when people dont deliver ? In my current company mgrs say “we did our best”, when in fact I see ppl slacking as hell (days of doing nothing).
I think the article misses what I think is a vitally important part of the job: being a crap shield. A lot of the work of an EM is wading into the slurry pit with a shovel so your team are free to get the job done: bashing your head against InfoSec teams stuck in the '80s so the CI/CD toolchain can deploy to production, negotiating freedom with a CTO who wants to specify everything to the level of individual data str…
The #1 job of a manager (in all fields) is to keep his people working. It doesn't matter if it is engineering, manufacturing or the local burger joint. A managers #1 job is to keep his people working.
If you do it right, it's like 90% teambuilding and 10% line management, IMO. When that ratio is inverted is where you see mediocre management.
I'm currently writing down a lot of the management lessons and coaching I usually give new directors as they learn their craft. It's mostly for my own sanity during startup building, since I miss coaching, but thinking of publishing it. There's a lot of EM guidance out there, but it's lacking for directors.
I recommend all of the books referenced in the original post. They are all very good. But the expectation of an engineering manager is fairly simple: Do whatever it takes. Way back in February or March, when we were still working from the office, I walked to the drug store on the corner and got Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer for everyone. Because, do whatever it takes.
I think the article misses what I think is a vitally important part of the job: being a crap shield. A lot of the work of an EM is wading into the slurry pit with a shovel so your team are free to get the job done: bashing your head against InfoSec teams stuck in the '80s so the CI/CD toolchain can deploy to production, negotiating freedom with a CTO who wants to specify everything to the level of individual data str…
Individual Contributors usually do not want ambiguity or to have a lesser impression of the company or of someone, it isn't good for anyone.
They also lack the context you have and jump to a lot of conclusions that are usually unfair.
It's a hard job!
I think the article misses what I think is a vitally important part of the job: being a crap shield. A lot of the work of an EM is wading into the slurry pit with a shovel so your team are free to get the job done: bashing your head against InfoSec teams stuck in the '80s so the CI/CD toolchain can deploy to production, negotiating freedom with a CTO who wants to specify everything to the level of individual data str…
In Office Space, one thing that makes Lumbergh the manager so distasteful is you just know he would never do one thing to help anyone reporting to him.
> configuration galley
I like that. "Ramming speed."
I think the article misses what I think is a vitally important part of the job: being a crap shield. A lot of the work of an EM is wading into the slurry pit with a shovel so your team are free to get the job done: bashing your head against InfoSec teams stuck in the '80s so the CI/CD toolchain can deploy to production, negotiating freedom with a CTO who wants to specify everything to the level of individual data str…
> configuration galley What does this mean?
However it also refers to the kitchen on certain even larger boats.
So, it's kind of ambiguous what GP meant - either picking a cook out of a galley-kitchen (who is not the best chef, but rather someone making huge amounts of food for a ship's crew), or picking a slave off of the oars in a galley-ship.
I don't know.
That's my current struggle. I'm leaning on doing work for myself on the weekend and evenings, which will be brutal.