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Category Archives: Management
When “Free” upsets your model
When something is free (free as in beer, not free as in speech1), how many of us are tempted to over-consume? What if we’re separated from the true cost of something by policy or tradition? Do we find ourselves over-consuming something… (read more)
Connect in some way
I’d already been heavily involved in Unix/Linux for nearly twenty years by the time I found myself assigned as the leader/manager of the Windows Engineering team. Even some of my closest colleagues scoffed when they heard the news. How could… (read more)
Posted in Leadership, Management
Tagged change management, ITIL, leadership, management, team development
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In their cube
Seth Godin’s post on Empathy sat me down to pound out this post on something I did frequently while managing IT Teams at a previous employer. Very simple but unconventional. I’d sit at their desks. That might sound creepy, so… (read more)
All I Really Need to Know (about management) I Learned From my Toddler
Over the years I’ve learned quite a lot from being my toddler’s Dad. Here are some of the things I’ve been able to adopt and put into practice in my role as a leader and manager of technical people. Ask… (read more)
Posted in Management
Tagged management, team development, trust, workplace environment
Comments Off on All I Really Need to Know (about management) I Learned From my Toddler
Get your own team
Your company likes to promote from within. One day you come in to find that management has recognized all the leadership you’ve been providing and has promoted you to your first position as a team manager. Congratulations!(?)
Keep it simple, make it fun
I’ve received dozens of performance reviews over the years and yet only really one stands out. What made it different? It took place over a pair of ice cream floats at a quiet, private table in a restaurant near our… (read more)
Removing Roadblocks
One moment your team is efficient and effective and the next moment: they’re at a dead stop. What happened? Someone hit a roadblock.
Watching a frog jump
How do you decide whom to hire? Do you rely on your recruiter? Does HR call the shots? Do you interview and then call their references? Let’s say you’re hiring a juggler or a chef—would you hire either without watching… (read more)
How big is it?
Recruiting for a role can be a powerful tool to let your people grow and mature in their abilities by delegating to them certain tasks and responsibilities to stretch themselves. It can also be cause for resentment, especially in “volunteer”… (read more)
Breaking up the team
Last month I wrote about Team Development and the four stages a team goes through reaching high levels of performance. There are some who would add a fifth stage, Adjourning, that would follow the previous four. This stage covers what… (read more)
