際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo
Pu#ng&Down&the&Tools
Avoiding(the(#1(Mistake(All(New(So6ware(
Managers(Make(in(a(Crisis
Yes,%we've%all%done%it.
I've%done%it.%My%managers%have%done%it.%And%most%likely,%it's%the%
default%se:ng%for%many%ba<le=worn%team%leads.
In#those#crisis#moments#when#expecta1ons#are#high,#everything#is#
going#o鍖#the#rails,#and#the#deadline#was#yesterday,#all#new#so9ware#
managers#will#u;er#one#fateful#sentence.
!"It$would$be$so$much$faster$if$I$just$did$this$
myself."!
!Then!they!pick!up!the!IDE,!close!the!o鍖ce!door,!and!retreat!into!
the!code.
What%they%don't%realize%is%that%they've%just%
kicked%o鍖%a%chain%reac7on%of%nega7ve%
work%prac7ces%that%will%plague%their%team%
for%months.
Save%Yourself
As#you#probably#understand#all#too#well,#the#programming#world#is#
full#of#鍖res#to#ex9nguish.#No#ma<er#what#your#company's#size#or#
specialty,#you#are#going#to#hit#many,#many#pressure#cooker#days.
It's%up%to%you%to%an,cipate%the%inevitable%before%it%happens%and%
make%a%鍖rm,%conscious%choice%not%to%try%to%code%your%way%out%of%a%
crisis.%
Why$We$Make$This$Classic$Mistake
Making'the'switch'from'programmer'to'team'lead'can'be'鍖at'out'
awkward'at'8mes.'You've'gone'from'playing'in'the'orchestra'from'
leading(it,'which'really'shakes'up'your'iden8ty.
The$most$signi鍖cant$shi/$comes$with$the$realiza4on$that$you're$no$
longer$a$produc4on$unit,$but$you're$s4ll$working$in$an$industry$that$
values$produc4on.$If$you've$always$taken$pride$in$the$4dy$
transac4on$of$being$paid$for$your$output,$management$is$a$strange$
new$world.
Mixed&Messages
First&o鍖,&while&promo0ons&are&a&much5coveted&status&symbol,&they&
carry&a&built5in&mixed&message.&It's&as&if&your&company&is&saying,
"You're(such(a(great(programmer!(Now(let's(
have(you(do(less$of$that."
Doing&less&coding&o,en&feels&like&you're&
doing&less&altogether&or&that&you're&not&as&
important&to&the&company,&especially&
when&you're&just&learning&the&ropes.&
Dependent'on'Others
Then%there's%the%new%reality%of%how%
produc5on%happens.%As%a%programmer,%
your%brainpower%and%clever%workarounds%
could%conjure%magni鍖cent%code%from%your%
鍖ngers.
The$programs$you$created$could$keep$
manufacturing$produc6on$humming$or$
bring$it$to$a$stands6ll.$En6re$businesses$
hung$on$your$crea6ons.$
Now$you're$dependent$on$other$people$to$create$the$code$that$
works$this$magic.$And$making$the$switch$from$crea:ng$your$own$
technological$incanta:ons$to$suppor:ng$other$people's$e鍖orts$
really$feels$awkward$for$a$while.
It#Gets#Worse
That%clumsy%beginner's%feeling%gets%cranked%up%when%you%face%the%
new%aspects%of%team%dynamics%and%the%reality%of%being%without%
your%most%powerful%weapon:%your%ability%to%code.%
But$you$really$get$triggered$by$array$of$new$expecta4ons$staring$at$
you,$like:
 Figuring(out(your(boss's(agenda
 Assigning(work(to(former(coworkers
 Dealing(with(morale(speed(bumps
 Steering(through(so=ware(quality(problems
Stepping(into(a(new(management(role(can(feel(like(stepping(into(a(
plane's(cockpit(without(any(鍖ight(training.(There(are(all(these(
complicated,(unfamiliar(dials(and(gauges(you(don't(understand,(and(
you(don't(know(if(that(blinking(light(means(an(engine(has(failed(or(
the(co鍖ee's(ready.(
In#order#to#escape#this#anxiety#loop,#many#new#managers#fall#into#
one#of#two#pa7erns:
 Code&less,&but&indulge&their&coding&desires&by&pu5ng&out&鍖res&
and&debugging&whenever&possible.
 Code&even&more&intently,&blocking&out&team&members&and&
undermining&their&credibility&as&a&leader.
Each%of%these%posi-ons%is%a%pa/ern%that%will%cause%you%to%fail.%
Let$me$say$it$again.$Retrea/ng$to$the$posi/on$of$"I'll$do$it$myself"$
isn't$going$to$save$you$any$/me$or$frustra/on.$It's$only$going$to$
crank$up$the$problems.
'I'll$Do$It$Myself':$Say$Hello$to$a$
Cascade$of$Problems
Once%you've%u+ered%those%fateful%words,%
you%are%no%longer%doing%the%job%you%were%
paid%to%do:%leading.%And%if%you're%not%doing%
your%job,%especially%when%your%team%needs%
your%leadership%most,%then%no%one%is.
If#you#follow#through#on#your#natural#desire#to#just#do#it#yourself,#
you've#chosen#to#avoid#doing#the#following#cri$cal#items:
Communica)on
Checking)in)with)your)team)members)and)
other)departments)is)the)heart)of)your)
work.)But)chaining)yourself)to)your)
computer)stops)that)cold.)Suddenly,)
you've)cut)o鍖)any)team)discussions)about)
quality,)progress,)or)individual)
development.)Everyone(loses.)
Connec&on
Jumping(in(to(correct(someone(else's(work(not(only(short5circuits(
their(learning(process,(it(teaches(them(to(do(substandard(work.(
Pre<y(soon(they(only(turn(in(par=ally(completed(work(because(
they(鍖gure(you'll(just(redo(it(anyway.
"Why%bother?",%they%think.%They%lose%their%
drive,%you%lose%their%trust,%and%projects%
start%to%su鍖er.
!It's!like!a!conductor!wrestling!the!tuba!
away!from!the!tuba!player.
Momentum
When%you%move%back%into%produc4on%mode,%there's%no%one%
available%to%keep%team%moving%forward.%Essen4al%work%like%status%
updates,%work%review,%and%new%project%prepara4on%is%completely%
out%the%window%un4l%you%pick%your%head%up.%
You've'just'traded'away'hours'of'non3replaceable'8me'and'energy'
that'should'have'been'devoted'to'doing'the'job'you're'hired'to'do.'
And'when'you'get'back'to'the'work'that's'been'piling'up'on'your'
desk,'you've'got'to'dig'out'all'over'again.
Sustainability
Let's&be&honest.&It&feels&great&to&be&a&hero,&swooping&in&to&save&the&
day&with&a&brilliant&solu:on.&But&the&cost&is&just&too&high.
A""quick"鍖x""always"takes"much"longer,"turning"your"one9hour"job"
into"six"hours"(or"more!)"of"mind9numbing"panic."While"you"code"up"
a"鍖x,"your"resentment"and"exhausDon"build"and"you're"teaching"
your"team"to"depend"on"your"last9minute"e鍖orts"to"bail"them"out"
instead"of"their"own"skills."
Management(Skills
Running&to&your&comfort&zone&feels&safe,&
but&it's&a&very&limited&strategy&that&keeps&
you&from&making&the&changes&necessary&
for&you&to&be&a&good&manager.
Trust&me.&Take&a&chance,&drop&the&IDE&
security&blanket&and&interact&with&your&
team&instead.
Best%Prac*ces%for%Crises
While&you're&wai.ng&for&your&team&to&
complete&their&work,&you&don't&need&to&sit&
passively&or&beat&them&with&the&boss&s.ck.&
Here&are&a&few&.ps&that&will&keep&you&sane&
and&your&team&on&track.
Don't&Do&it&Yourself
If#there's#a#problem#that#you#desperately#
need#to#rework,#don't&do&it&yourself.#Grab#a#
programmer#and#say,#"Let's#review#this#
code#together#to#鍖x#it."
Sure,&you&just&scratched&your&itch&by&ge3ng&involved,&but&you've&
also&established&much9needed&rapport&and&created&up&a&teaching&
momentfor&both&of&you.
Communicate
Panicked)about)a)deadline?)Get)a)status)
update)from)the)programmers,)adjust)the)
workload)if)needed,)and)contact)the)client)
(or)your)boss))to)give)them)an)update.
Once%again,%you've%opened%lines%of%communica5on%and%placed%your%
focus%on%the%overall%project,%not%just%your%team's%to:do%list%or%your%
stress.
或悪,$赫看$粥鞄艶温糸$粥稼糸$遺看糸艶
Can't&keep&yourself&away&from&
tempta3on?&Fine.&Then&code.&But&don't&
code&anything&that&will&be&used&in&
produc3on.
I"cannot"emphasize"this"enough."If"you"
absolutely,"posi7vely"can't"resist,"then"
choose"a"project"that"is"on"the"back"
burner."You"don't"want"to"muck"up"a"
project"in"process.
This%Is%About%the%Long%Game
Great&management&prac,ces&depend&on&a&solid,&though5ul&
founda,on&created&outside&the&heat&of&crisis.&But&it's&worth&
remembering&that&reputa,ons&are&earned&and&character&is&
uncovered&during&crucial,&adrenaline=鍖lled&moments.&
Remember&that&your&purpose&as&a&manager&is&to&create&a&team&that&
is&capable&of&producing&excellent&code.
In#those#ins*nct,driven#moments,#especially#in#beginner's#panic,#
please#take#a#step#back.##Avoid#this#classic#management#blunder.#
Become&a&Be(er&Technical&Manager
I"get"paid"to"coach"newly"minted"technical"managers."My"clients"
quickly"feel"drama:cally"more"con鍖dent"and"capable"and"start"
seeing"be=er"performance"from"themselves"and"their"team"within"
weeks.
I"am"taking"the"same"insigh-ul,"ac2onable"lessons"I"teach"in"my"
coaching"and"pu8ng"them"out"as"a"free"newsle<er."Sign"up"to"
become"a"be<er"manager"here.
Ad

Recommended

Putting Down the Tools
Putting Down the Tools
Marcus Blankenship
How to Really Put Down the Tools and Get Back to Being a Manager
How to Really Put Down the Tools and Get Back to Being a Manager
Marcus Blankenship
Resource Efficient Agicultural Production
Resource Efficient Agicultural Production
x3G9
WordCamp Talk 2014
WordCamp Talk 2014
Christina Scelsi, J.D., LL.M.
Simplifying Your Marketing Plan
Simplifying Your Marketing Plan
Christine Argier
Techmanity 2015
Techmanity 2015
Christine Argier
How To Avoid Double Taxation
How To Avoid Double Taxation
Shobhit Tiwari
Presentaci坦n blog
Jayleth Hd
Plan formaci坦n eti padre madariaga 2016 2017
Jayleth Hd
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
Marcus Blankenship
Traffic is Beneath You
Traffic is Beneath You
Christine Argier
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
Marcus Blankenship
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Shobhit Tiwari
Administrative discretion
Administrative discretion
abhiruchi jain
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
Christine Argier
Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Arty Starr
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Daniel Cardel炭s
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
SpencerCarol
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
Alexey Kovalyov
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
April Wensel
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
Geoff Talbot
Managing expectations
Managing expectations
Barry O Sullivan
20190413 zen and the art of programming
20190413 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Unit a
Unit a
IceJudge
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Stan Carrico
20180324 zen and the art of programming
20180324 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Innovation CEO
Innovation CEO
Bill Burnett
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Wojciech Seliga
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
Geoff Talbot
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
Kelly Burlingham

More Related Content

Viewers also liked (7)

Plan formaci坦n eti padre madariaga 2016 2017
Jayleth Hd
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
Marcus Blankenship
Traffic is Beneath You
Traffic is Beneath You
Christine Argier
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
Marcus Blankenship
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Shobhit Tiwari
Administrative discretion
Administrative discretion
abhiruchi jain
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
Christine Argier
Plan formaci坦n eti padre madariaga 2016 2017
Jayleth Hd
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
A Real-Life Handbook for Making Delegation Work for You
Marcus Blankenship
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
Marcus Blankenship
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Oppression of minority shareholders by majority shareholders
Shobhit Tiwari
Administrative discretion
Administrative discretion
abhiruchi jain
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
The Psychology of Color in Presentation Design
Christine Argier

Similar to Putting Down the Tools (20)

Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Arty Starr
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Daniel Cardel炭s
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
SpencerCarol
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
Alexey Kovalyov
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
April Wensel
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
Geoff Talbot
Managing expectations
Managing expectations
Barry O Sullivan
20190413 zen and the art of programming
20190413 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Unit a
Unit a
IceJudge
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Stan Carrico
20180324 zen and the art of programming
20180324 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Innovation CEO
Innovation CEO
Bill Burnett
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Wojciech Seliga
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
Geoff Talbot
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
Kelly Burlingham
20171106 sesug bb 184 zen and the art of problem solving
20171106 sesug bb 184 zen and the art of problem solving
David Horvath
Chapter 9 Changing Your Requirements-Gathering Mind-Set Th.docx
Chapter 9 Changing Your Requirements-Gathering Mind-Set Th.docx
christinemaritza
Anti-patterns
Anti-patterns
Return on Intelligence
Pinck.pascal
Pinck.pascal
NASAPMC
Practical problem solving tips
Practical problem solving tips
Marval Software
Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Stop Getting Crushed By Business Pressure
Arty Starr
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Software projects can go well... ask me how
Daniel Cardel炭s
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
Problem Solving and Decision Making Illustrated Course Guides 2nd Edition But...
SpencerCarol
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
How to become a Poet and Firefighter still being IT Manager
Alexey Kovalyov
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
Forget Hiring 10X EngineersBuild a 10X Team
April Wensel
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
15 Reasons Why New Technology Fails In the Workplace
Geoff Talbot
20190413 zen and the art of programming
20190413 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Get things done : pragmatic project management
Stan Carrico
20180324 zen and the art of programming
20180324 zen and the art of programming
David Horvath
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Ten lessons I painfully learnt while moving from software developerto entrep...
Wojciech Seliga
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
The Seceret to Implementing New Technology
Geoff Talbot
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
5 Tips for Implementing New Technology
Kelly Burlingham
20171106 sesug bb 184 zen and the art of problem solving
20171106 sesug bb 184 zen and the art of problem solving
David Horvath
Chapter 9 Changing Your Requirements-Gathering Mind-Set Th.docx
Chapter 9 Changing Your Requirements-Gathering Mind-Set Th.docx
christinemaritza
Pinck.pascal
Pinck.pascal
NASAPMC
Practical problem solving tips
Practical problem solving tips
Marval Software
Ad

More from Marcus Blankenship (10)

The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
Marcus Blankenship
How to Manage Your Boss
How to Manage Your Boss
Marcus Blankenship
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Marcus Blankenship
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Marcus Blankenship
Putting Down the Tools
Putting Down the Tools
Marcus Blankenship
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
Marcus Blankenship
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
Marcus Blankenship
How to Manage Your Boss
How to Manage Your Boss
Marcus Blankenship
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Marcus Blankenship
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Marcus Blankenship
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
Marcus Blankenship
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Marcus Blankenship
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Marcus Blankenship
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
The Answer to the Dreaded Annual Review: No Surprises
Marcus Blankenship
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
New Managers Playbook: Having Difficult Conversations With Employees
Marcus Blankenship
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Defusing Frustrating Situations with Gentle Corrections
Marcus Blankenship
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Lead from the Podium: 6 Essential Concepts New Technical Managers Miss
Marcus Blankenship
Ad

Putting Down the Tools