Culture is by ExampleThe only way to improve or change the culture of an organization that you lead is by living it.
Words Not Lived Speak the LoudestWords not lived speak the loudest. • Quality is job one. • Safety is our number one priority. • Diversity is our strength. • The customer always comes first. They mean far worse than nothing if they are not lived.
Organizations don’t have ValuesOrganizations don’t have values, people do. People have personal values. Organizations have priorities.
Most Values are UselessMost organizational values are useless. Without contrast they are invisible.Without edges they are unmeasurable.Without order they are chaos.Without use they are abandoned.
5 New Manager Don’tsAny advice for a first-time manager? Sure, here are five important “don’ts”. 1) Don’t succumb to imposter syndrome Recently promoted managers often feel unworthy; question themselves or their abilities; wonder if they deserve it. It’s hard to be successful if you don’t believe you will be. The person who promoted [...]
Project RealismAs the software world marks the 20th anniversary of the agile manifesto, it occurred to me that there is an entire generation of developers who know nothing but that world. They know little of the decades of work done prior, nor, it seems, can they imagine how any of it [...]
The Need for an EnemyToday, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, is a time for many to reflect on the deeper issues of life. I'm no different.
Celebrate PromotionsPublicly celebrating promotions, in a genuine way establishes genuine connections and can have a positive effect beyond just the celebrant.
Are you a Manager or a Leader?What distinguishes a leader from a manager? When asked, many wax poetic about passion, and charisma, and vision. But how can you tell the difference in a more empirical way?