To the last bit about promotions, I like to think that things are how we -- anyone in a team lead or manager position now or in the future -- shape them to be.

To the last bit about promotions, I like to think that things are how we -- anyone in a team lead or manager position now or in the future -- shape them to be. It's sad thinking about a state of affairs where I would be biased towards the person in my team I see most often - either through better guidance/collaboration (affecting promotability over time) or mere water-cooler familiarity.