In developing talent within an organization, there are times where an individual contributor , often one that has excelled as an engineer, may be interested in becoming a manager. Read More
New Managers
Building Bridges
Building bridges between product and engineering is enabled by providing thoughtful problem statements. Read More
Radical Candor
Radical Candor is an overlooked asset in creating high-performance teams when that candor is built upon a foundation of trust. I’ve discovered that evoking transformation can often require radical candor. However, when properly applied, the transformation can resemble a metamorphosis. Read More
Lean Out / Lean in
The WEF estimates that it will take the U.S. another 208 years to reach gender equality. So, women and minorities may need to lean in for some time. As leaders though, we should lean out to create space so others may lean in. Read More
Talent Code Applied
In Talent Code, Daniel Coyle describes deep learning via short repetitions, feedback loops. I have applied this approach in coaching sports and in business. Read More
Confidence Villains
Leaders inspire people to persevere in the face of adversity and ultimately derive energy from the challenge of confronting their villains. Read More
The Dark Side of Agile
Along with the virtues of Agile Software Development also can come some destructive downsides that can erode trust and effectiveness within your company culture. Read More
Vectors of Influence
Vectors of Influence come from all sides in a changing world and tension easily arises that hinder effective Human Transformation. Read More
Different Stokes for Different Folks
Different Stokes for Different Folks – which version of Agile to apply based on team, project and situation. Read More
Handling Interrupts
Handling interrupts can be a draining burden for any team that is responsible for existing systems. If that team is also iterating on those systems to enhance and/or improve them, this impacts the ability to plan. Read More
Lean Staffing – It’s about the People
At IMVU, we focused on hiring and developing engineers that loved challenges and loved to iterate and move fast. This included an interview process where each question was set up to get harder and harder. This was done until we had pushed beyond the candidates comfort zone. Read More
Start with Trust
Start with trust to set the foundations of a relationships when a new person joins your team. The first impression you make on them sets the foundation for the rest of your journey together. Read More
The Room Where it Happens
As leaders, much of the magic happens in the one-on-one conversations either in the privacy of a physical of virtual room (think Skype or Zoom) or on a walk-about as a more neutral setting and where you also benefit from the energy of being in Motion. Read More
Perspectives – Goldilocks and the Six Chairs
Perspectives are helpful when facing a big, life decision with multiple aspects at play. Read More
Embrace the Challenge
After riding the dot com wave as VP, Engineering for the fastest growing software company on NASDAQ, I decided to embrace the challenge to give back by getting my teaching credentials at San Jose State. I walked by this statue commemorating Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ brave protest at the 1968 Olympics on my way… Read More
Orange Observations
I devised this Orange Observations exercise in my efforts to inspire my students to be observant. Read More
Protected: Achieving Your Goal – 9 Rules
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Building Collaborative Groups with Broken Squares
Broken Squares, Blokus, etc – Games to teach collaboration Read More
Role Models
Inspiration, curiosity and drive for someone with a growth mindset can be sparked or fed by role models. Here are just a few of the many role models that inspired me If we consider the possibility that the potential lies within each of us to be a Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Malala… Read More