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I second the Manager Tools podcast, it has been great for getting started with engineering management. Here's what's distilled down from a lot of their intro ca
by acconrad 8y ago
I second the Manager Tools podcast, it has been great for getting started with engineering management. Here's what's distilled down from a lot of their intro casts:
1. Have a 1x1 once a week with each direct for 30 min
2. If you can have your 1x1 walking (go for coffee, head outside) try and do that; conversation flows easier when it's not in a confined space like a meeting room.
3. Loosely allocate the meeting in 1/2: 15 min for them to talk about whatever they want. 15 min for you to talk about what you need to talk about (usually top->down information), and at least leave a few min at the end for career development or tactics.
4. Throw out rule #3 if they want to talk more than 15 min. Always cut your portion down to accommodate them. The point of the meeting is to build trust. Building trust means listening to your directs and getting to know them and what makes them tick. You'll always learn more by listening than instructing.
And that's basically it, that will get you a long way for now!
- devillius 8y agoThis. 100 times this.
- grahamm 8y agoMy only caveat on (2) is when you have coffee make time to stop and listen to your direct report and stop in a place they feel comfortable and can talk open and freely. I had a manager once that stomped his way around a mall. Spent the whole time keeping up with him (taller) while avoiding colleagues also getting coffee. Didn't feel I could focus on what I wanted to say while walking and felt rushed. Wasn't even convinced he was focused on our activity either. Not very good and not very productive for me (manager was fine, he'd got his coffee).
- FranzFerdiNaN 8y agoI would go absolutely insane if I had to have a 1-on-1 with my manager every week. I’m sure some people love it, but it’s not for everyone.
- pisarzp 8y agoI thought so too. Then i joined Google, where it’s mandatory. After some time I learned to see the value. Ever since i left Google i tried to have them, but managers dont seem to buy into this idea, and i miss it dearly
- jchendy 8y agoWhy didn't you like them and what changed your mind?
- mbfg 8y agocompletely agree. 1 on 1s in my experience (25 years with lots of managers) is they have no value for me.
- wodenokoto 8y agoHow few directs does one usually have? My last office had 30 people under one manager, and my current have 15. I don't see how weekly 30 minutes 1-1's are feasible.
- Nitramp 8y agoPrevailing thought in this context is that a single person cannot reasonably manage more than 10 people, and a good number is 6 or 7. I agree with that, I have no idea how I'd keep the interests and issues and projects and goals and whatnot of 15 people in my head, let alone 30.