Tech Leadership Weekly

Issue 84, October 4, 2017

Mike Schneider
Google Thought The Key to Effective Management Was Technical Expertise

For a technical manager, strong technical expertise isn't a key skill. The most valued skill is being even keeled during stressful situations. Managers who help people work though problems are more effective then those who do not. Great managers take an interest in their employees lives and their career. Empathy, empowerment, and productivity are more valuable than your technical skills.

Reading Time: 3 minutes
 

Gergely Orosz
Things I've learned transitioning from engineer to engineering manager

Finding mentors within your current organization makes a real difference transitioning into management. This person should be outside your current management chain. As a manager, your priorities are: company, team, your team members, (and yourself). Rank projects against these priorities to maximize value. Finally, find a time management strategy that works for you. Efficiently managing tasks is of the utmost importance.

Reading Time: 5 minutes
 

Erik Bernhardsson
Optimizing for iteration speed

Faster iteration creates faster learnings. Rigorous automated testing  is key for faster iteration. Continuous delivery enables rollbacks in the case of a bug. Faster iteration means moving away from sprints. Two or three week sprints are mini waterfall. They sacrifice flexibility for predictability. Velocity accomplished with small tasks. Features should only take a few hours from start time to reviewed and merged. Faster iteration speed means faster team and organizational learning.

Reading Time: 6 minutes
 

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