Blog

  • The meaning of leadership is independent of scale

    The meaning of leadership is invariable from scale, just like the number of degrees in a circle doesn’t change with its size. Larger teams may require more work, but not more leadership.

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  • Agile vs. Waterfall vs. Others. Scale matters

    Shortly after a recent reorg at my company, I found myself discussing the merits of different project management methodologies, rather than focusing on the work to be done. That got me thinking, at the scale of small- to mid-size projects, are the benefits among methodologies even noticeable? Read the article and find out how scale…

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  • But I would have done it differently

    Improving your leadership skills involves learning how to assign tasks and having confidence that the person will deliver a high-quality outcome. The real test isn’t just delegation, but the acceptance of different approaches from your own. When done right, delegation enables professional growth, innovation, and shared responsibility, but it involves trust, clear communication, evaluation of…

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  • Quiet quitting and how you may be working against yourself

    Quiet quitting involves performing only the minimum work required, which stagnates personal and professional growth. While it may seem tempting, it is a bad strategy. Instead, investing in oneself, embracing continuous learning, and striving for excellence can enhance career opportunities and overall job satisfaction.

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  • Duck Assisted Management

    Duck Assisted Management

    People often approach me and ask how to deal with a manager who feels compelled to make frequent “contributions.” A technique used once in the development of a chess game may be the closest solution to date for this predicament. In this article I will show you how to handle those situations, keep a good…

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  • Legitimate Agreement and Highly Productive Teams

    Leaders aim for success through team engagement and productivity. Legitimate authority, as outlined by Rousseau, relies on mutual consent and clear communication. Establishing an agreement with the team fosters alignment and ownership. Continuous feedback and progress monitoring ensure effectiveness, promoting a culture where criticism is welcomed and valued for improvement.

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  • Why do meteors fall in the center of craters?And other misunderstandings between cause and effect

    After having been awaken by a meteor impact, a young boy developed a passion for astronomy and sought to understand the formation of craters and how they attract meteors. In this article I explore instances of confusion between cause and effect, and how they also compromise discernment—especially in business. In light of new information and…

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  • Don’t let it break–there won’t be any thank you notes

    On March 2024 I came across a social media post advocating for team members to let systems break so to raise awareness about underlying issues. I fundamentally disagree with the abdication of responsibility and betrayal of customer trust. There is a deeper issue and lack of effective communication with stakeholders. Letting your systems fail, and…

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  • Refactoring a bureaucratic process

    The post discusses the challenges of changing an established process within a company, using an example of refactoring the process for releasing products. It describes the difficulties, resistance, and steps taken to implement change, eventually leading to a successful pilot and the adoption of a simplified process. The key principles for refactoring a bureaucratic process…

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  • Engineering Culture Manifesto

    Culture is not organic, it is cultivated. It is one of the most important levers you will have available to lead your team. The way I see it, these are the fundamental pillars of engineering culture. [1] Deprecated means the version still works and is fully operational. However, it will not be maintained going forward,…

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