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My $0.02 as an ex Team Lead, and I've been offered management a few times. 1. Leadership is a taught skill. Most people DO NOT realize this. People aren't na
by ilc 3y ago
My $0.02 as an ex Team Lead, and I've been offered management a few times.
1. Leadership is a taught skill. Most people DO NOT realize this. People aren't natural born leaders. You learn by learning the principles of leadership, and practicing them day in and day out. Alas, not everyone leads the same way. We all have our own tricks and style.
2. Communications Skills: This is also a taught skill. Yes, we all have our own style, but knowing how to communicate within your style is critical.
3. Negotiations: Any time 2 people have to discuss getting anything done. It is a negotiation. Alas, most people don't understand basic negotiation theory. Never mind the advanced stuff. I'm not talking used car salesman shit. That doesn't get you anywhere long term. But how to get to real win-win situations, or at least the least lose-lose you can manage.
4. Expectations: A manager has to learn to work with what they have. Not what they wish they have. Or 5 mini-me's. Learning to have your own expectations right, when to push, and when to let go is a critical part.. you only get so many "shits to give". So if you give a shit... make sure it is about the right topic. How many times have you seen a CEO give a shit about something they just shouldn't care about? ... Learn the lesson now.
Leadership is a different skill from programming. Very different.
And I've only seen 1 non-technical leader in my career who was any good. That said... I've seen plenty of bad technical leaders who knew everything. :)
- ulnarkressty 3y agoCan you please share how you learned leadership, communication, negotiation etc. and how you measured your effectiveness as a manager? This thread is mostly just like these management books - collections of anecdotes disguised as a training manual. Which is incredibly frustrating since most of them can be applied in that particular situation with those particular people. Are there really no principles that can raise your effectiveness in any situation? Some time ago there was an army manual shared on HN, which taught leadership from first principles. Pure gold, I thought, and read on, until page 4 where the anecdotes of how some captain or other led his men to battle and captured the hill started...
- caminante 3y agoI recommend high output management by Andy Grove. It's widely praised and cited on HN when comments such as yours (rightfully) come up.
- ilc 3y agoWell, you ask a hard question. I learned my basics of leadership in Alpha Phi Omega - National Service Fraternity (also met my wife who is also a brother.) Communication, Alpha Phi Omega, and also a course from Harvard's Negotiation Team, focused on "Difficult Conversations" Negotiations, a course from Harvard's Negotiation Team, focused on "Getting to Yes". I typed out a huge answer to your question, but I realized it'd be better as a discussion. If you want to discuss leadership, I'd be glad to, we'll figure out a way even as anon internet strangers ;).
- XCSme 3y agoYour wife is your brother?
- ilc 3y agoAll members of the fraternity (Male and Female) are called brothers, a few chapters don't do this, but it is rare, and forced by local school admins. As we say: Incest is best, put your brother to the test. It makes sense that brothers would date. We share a love of community service, many common values, and experiences. Think about how much that simplifies the whole dating thing. https://apo.org/ https://apo.org/