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About 15 years ago I found myself in charge of building/growing/running a team in response to a product that was growing insanely. That growth went on for a dec
by zgluck 3y ago
About 15 years ago I found myself in charge of building/growing/running a team in response to a product that was growing insanely. That growth went on for a decade.
I did the gardener thing, handling "each plant" differently, shielded them from external pressures, adjusted the level of management individually and let those that demonstrated the capability to make sane design decisions solve large problem areas on their own, etc.
I did not expose good work via publicity. I did express it to them personally and via salary increases etc. It was kind of made clear via osmosis in the team, but not outside of it. There was never that kind of culture in that company. It was also in egalitarian northern Europe.
Your comment made me think about whether I should have attempted to introduce it or not. I think I really should have. Sudden big regret.
- danparsonson 3y agoYou did the best that you knew how to at the time, and what you've described sounds like a great experience for your team; don't give yourself a hard time if you think you'd now do something differently. Getting better at something, or changing the way we want to do it, doesn't mean our past efforts were failures.
- zgluck 3y agoThanks, and yeah, we had fun!
- noisy_boy 3y agoI mentioned publicity as a dimension of what made them excellent but it's not the only thing. Direct appreciation combined with salary increments are an excellent reward. You have nothing to regret and should be proud of your efforts.