Organization
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Org Survey Part 2: Analysis
→: Org Survey Part 2: AnalysisThis is the second part of running an org survey. You can find the questions in part 1. What Does The Data Look Like? First step is color-coding the spreadsheet to show trends in the numbers. I made a sample spreadsheet and generated random data – so it looks a little chaotic – but you…
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Speaking and Nerves
→: Speaking and NervesI just gave my third talk of the year, so this marks the half way point as I will do 6 events, total. This included my first opening keynote, and the largest audience I have spoken in front of yet (>700). Now I have a break until September. It seems like a good time to…
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Running an Effective Mobile Team, Part 2: Creating Predictability
→: Running an Effective Mobile Team, Part 2: Creating PredictabilityPredictable. The team has a regular cadence. They can set goals and expectations around deadlines. Challenge: Shipping compiled code. Most advice about improving team velocity talks about continuous delivery. Ship constantly! As many times a day as you call! Roll back if you need to! Tell us about that time you broke prod! YOLO! Here’s a fun…
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Most Productivity Advice is Bullshit
→: Most Productivity Advice is BullshitI’ve been having a productive time, up the mountain. I’ve achieved things at work, blogged regularly, sent out Technically Speaking with Chiu-Ki, made some progress on The Dark Place that is my personal inbox, I feel fit and healthy. I’ve achieved this by skiing for two hours weekday mornings (longer at the weekends) – hard,…
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One of Those Days
→: One of Those DaysI had one of those days last week. I woke up later than I wanted to, and it took me a while to get moving. Then just as I was getting started, I realized that I had to deal with some insurance thing, which was – of course – a complete pain. Eventually, I was out…
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A Taxonomy of Remote Work
→: A Taxonomy of Remote WorkMulti-Location Multiple offices. Often teams are organized to be based in one office. Benefits: Employ people in multiple locations (e.g. outside of the bay area). Challenges: Communication cross-site, competition for projects, frequent travel (esp for leaders in the organization). Remote By Location Not By Timezone People don’t work in the same place but work on the same timezone.…
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Why Do Standup
→: Why Do StandupShare work before it happens – prevent overlap, raise gotchas. Foster communication and collaboration – offer help rather than waiting for someone to ask. Start the day with intention. Turns out, status updates are not the most useful aspect of standup.
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Things to Figure Out as a New Manager: Part 1, Your Schedule
→: Things to Figure Out as a New Manager: Part 1, Your ScheduleWe normally talk about the challenge of moving to a manager’s schedule in terms of our desire to write code. But writing code is just part of it. As an IC, you probably had some kind of schedule that worked well for you. When we move to being managers, it’s tempting to try and slot “management…
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Figuring out “Remote Work” is Figuring out “Work”
→: Figuring out “Remote Work” is Figuring out “Work”Credit: Xisco Bibiloni /Wikimedia Commons There’s a category of Remote Work Think Pieces (by men) that is all about how they personally have had to adapt to remote work (different from the “remote work is the answer” think piece). These annoy me not because I don’t love reading about other people’s workflow and productivity (I do!)…