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Nobody Gets Promoted for Simplicity
We reward complexity and ignore simplicity. In interviews, design reviews, and promotions. Here’s how to fix it.
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Why Am I Doing the Thinking for You?
‘What do you think?’ without a position isn’t a question — it’s a task assignment. State your opinion first. Let people react to something concrete.
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Why I Still Write Code as an Engineering Manager
I still code as an engineering manager. Not to stay busy, but to show my team what good looks like.
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“ChatGPT said this” Is Lazy
When you paste ChatGPT’s response instead of your own feedback, you’re not being helpful. You’re being lazy and creating more work for everyone.
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Stop Avoiding Politics
Most engineers think workplace politics is dirty. They’re wrong. Refusing to play politics doesn’t make you noble; it makes you ineffective.
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The Management Skill Nobody Talks About
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen Let me tell you something that will happen after you become a manager: you’re going to mess up. A lot. You’ll give feedback that lands wrong and crushes someone’s confidence. You’ll make a decision that seems logical but turns out…
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Why Most Feedback Shouldn’t Exist
Before giving feedback, ask yourself: is there measurable impact? Most manager feedback is just personal preference disguised as professional development. Stop policing personality.
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Why Engineers Hate Their Managers (And What to Do About It)
Discover why engineers hate managers, the common management anti-patterns that destroy trust, and practical solutions from someone who’s been on both sides.
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Good Engineer/Bad Engineer
Why the best engineers aren’t always the smartest — and what separates engineers who ship from those who just code.
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Manage For Success, Not Comfort
Great managers build effective engineering teams focused on results, not just team comfort. Success drives satisfaction—not the other way around.