/Management

Yes, Or...

- John Cutler tl;dr: John calls out the counterpoints to wisdom often cited in common phrases we hear: (1) "Be customer-obsessed.” (2) Teams need clear objectives!” (3) "Think big. Start Small.” (4) "You can’t improve what you don’t measure." (5) "Focus on outcomes, not outputs."

featured in #562

3 Insights From Building Superblocks Layouts

- Eric Anderson tl;dr: Most low-code app builders rely on rigid grids, leading to simple web apps that lack the flexibility and polish users expect from modern sites. At Superblocks, we wanted to raise the bar by enabling dynamic, flexible layouts without requiring users to dive into CSS or JavaScript. Achieving this meant reworking one of our core features from the ground up, which was no small task. Along the way, we learned a lot about striking the right balance between pushing bold new ideas forward and keeping the end experience familiar to our users. 

featured in #562

Dear CTO: It's Not 2015 Anymore

- Christine Miao tl;dr: “With AI and big tech layoffs, engineering organizations have been put under a microscope like never before. Engineering leaders need to adapt to this new normal.”

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Eng Org Seniority-Mix Model

- Will Larson tl;dr: A model examining how different policies affect engineering organization seniority mix. Without intervention, orgs become top-heavy with senior engineers, increasing costs. Three key policies work together: backfilling departures at lower levels, stopping senior-level external hiring, and capping the maximum number of senior positions.

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How Not To Disagree

- Andrew Bosworth tl;dr: “Imagine a simple scenario. Your manager is proposing changes to your roadmap. Those changes would negate months of work by your team. You lead the team and don’t agree with the new direction. Following a robust discussion your manager makes the change over your objections. How do you proceed?”

featured in #562

How Not To Disagree

- Andrew Bosworth tl;dr: “Imagine a simple scenario. Your manager is proposing changes to your roadmap. Those changes would negate months of work by your team. You lead the team and don’t agree with the new direction. Following a robust discussion your manager makes the change over your objections. How do you proceed?”

featured in #561

Learning To Learn

- Kevin Li tl;dr: “In the past 3 years, I’ve run over 300 interviews... I especially like capping interviews with an open-ended question that really lets great candidates shine. One of my favorite now-retired questions is: “What’s something you’ve learned that you believe gives you an edge - something that you’re almost surprised more people don’t know about?”

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Design Your Organization For The Conflicts You Want To Hear About

- Dave Kellogg tl;dr: “I have two rules for organization design: (1) Design for conflict. Specifically, design your organization for the conflicts you want to hear about. (2) Ensure value-add. Don’t put thing B under thing A unless the executive in charge can add value to both.”

featured in #560

Engineering Managers' Guide To Effective Annual Feedback

- Péter Szász tl;dr: “As we’re entering the last quarter of the year, the time has come when many tech companies start their yearly feedback cycles, providing formal feedback on the performance of their employees. While time-consuming, if done well, this is a great tool for Engineering Managers to make a difference in the professional life of their reports, so to help, I summarized what I’ve learned about this process during my career.”

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The Future Of AI, LLMs, And Observability On Google Cloud

tl;dr: Learn about the current and future states of AI, ML, and LLMs on Google Cloud. This guide distills the top 7 insights and actions from a fireside chat with Google’s Director of AI, Dr. Ali Arsanjani, and Datadog’s VP of Engineering, Sajid Mehmood. It covers everything from upskilling teams to observability best practices to help technical teams keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI.

featured in #560