Newsletters

Navigating ambiguity

January 28, 2024

This issue dives into navigating ambiguity in engineering, balancing team cultures, fixing broken teams, and celebrating unconventional outcomes. Plus, discover the role of the Subtractionist in enhancing team velocity.

Cathedral vs Bazaar People Management

January 21, 2024

In this issue, we explore contrasting people management styles, bridge-building decisions, challenges of long-term projects, effective executive presentations, and the importance of context in team influence.

Incentives and the Cobra Effect

January 14, 2024

This issue explores the unintended consequences of incentives, the importance of cultural shifts, the value of performance reviews, investing in tech debt, and the need for clear communication within teams.

Why Should You Become An Engineering Manager?

January 07, 2024

Welcome back. 🎉 Dive into this issue with insights on engineering management, diverse hiring strategies, tool canonicity, the roles of architects and tech leads, and the often-overlooked importance of security in startups.

Simple sabotage for software

December 17, 2023

In this festive final issue of the year, we explore strategies to enhance productivity, from addressing process debt to defining product leadership. Discover insights on shipping fast and increasing product velocity. Happy holidays. 🎄✨

Just Hire Talented People and Empower Them

December 10, 2023

In this issue, explore empowering talent, navigating change with kindness, mastering annual planning for engineering, and embracing asynchronous collaboration for distributed teams. Plus, discover a creative take on mapping your career.

The Fairytale Narrative: Structured strategic planning

December 03, 2023

In this issue, explore strategic planning through fairytales with Jason Cohen, tackle team synchronization with Mark Seemann, and uncover the roots of technical debt with Benji Weber. Dive into problem-solving with Will Larson's insights.

Building Alignment

November 26, 2023

In this issue, explore key insights on driving change within teams, handling failures, navigating organizational danger zones, and understanding performance as contextual. Enhance your management skills and foster effective collaboration.

How to Boss Without Being Bossy

November 19, 2023

This issue explores effective leadership strategies, from balancing clarity and respect in commands to building trust and preventing burnout in high-performing teams. Plus, insights on salary benchmarking for engineers and understanding natural monopolies.

The Human Side of Software Engineering Teams

November 12, 2023

This issue explores the human dynamics in software engineering teams, innovative planning methodologies, and fostering an engaged culture. Plus, insights on leadership and effective time management for engineering managers.

Startup Make-Believe

November 05, 2023

In this issue, we explore the pitfalls of "Startup Make-Believe," the significance of recognizing patterns in teams, a critical look at cloud adoption, Apple’s innovative strategies, and the value of flexible project management.

Developing leadership styles

October 29, 2023

In this issue, explore the nuances of leadership styles, insights from Meta's data engineering, strategies for engineering managers, cross-team collaboration tips, and the balance between performance and improvement for team success.

Networking as an introvert CTO

October 22, 2023

This issue explores networking strategies for introvert CTOs, stakeholder discovery, team dynamics through cycling, reasons for slower software shipping, and the importance of managing capacity over time.

How to keep us innovative?

October 15, 2023

This issue emphasizes the importance of using proven technology to foster innovation, blending junior and senior engineers for fresh perspectives, and clarifying management roles to avoid ambiguity. Discover effective leadership habits and insights from DoorDash's engineering management.

Nobody Cares

October 08, 2023

In this issue, we explore strategies for navigating challenges and effective leadership. Discover insights on prioritization, responding to employee raise requests, and the lessons learned from a CTO's journey.

The Musk Algorithm

October 01, 2023

In this issue, discover insights on optimizing company culture with Musk's intensity, estimating cloud costs, navigating accountabilities, enhancing management performance, and fostering kindness in engineering.

How Microsoft does Quality Assurance

September 24, 2023

In this issue, explore how Microsoft evolved its Quality Assurance practices, focusing on the significance of merging development and testing roles for improved code quality and team agility. Discover the benefits of this approach.

Blink Estimation

September 17, 2023

In this issue, explore the art of Blink Estimation, gain insights on advancing to Staff Engineer, discover leadership as a research project, and learn to navigate growth during downturns. Plus, master the balance of saying “no” and “yes.”

Performance & Compensation

September 10, 2023

This issue explores key challenges in performance and compensation for engineering teams, the importance of effective communication, and innovative methods for preparing for difficult conversations and enhancing teamwork.

The Engineering executive’s role in hiring

September 03, 2023

This issue dives into the evolving role of engineering executives in hiring, the pitfalls of ticket-centric development, and the importance of risk scenarios. Plus, insights on balancing tech debt and time demands for leaders.