What does a coach actually do?
Ask most people what a coach does and they’ll describe something close to advice-giving: a more experienced person telling a less experienced one what to do. That’s not quite it, and the difference matters. A coach’s job isn’t to hand you answers. It’s to help you find your own — ones that actually fit your…
Stop Trying to Be a Good Manager
Screenshot I’ve been managing engineers for over twenty years, which mostly means I’ve had twenty years to get things wrong and occasionally learn from it. Along the way I’ve collected a short list of things managers should do, a longer list of things they shouldn’t, and one piece of advice that underpins the lot. Let’s…
The hidden agendas of interview questions
Nearly all interview questions have a hidden meaning. Figuring out what they really want to know is paramount to interview success.
Mind the Gap!
How to ensure you don’t lose your new hire before day one!
I'm having a bad day. And that's OK.
Apathy, lethargy, mild below-the-surface irritation (anger?), lack of focus… I’m not entirely sure what’s brought me down today, maybe I’m a little tired (not been sleeping well)? The pressures of work? The shitty weather preventing most of my decompression activities? The complicated family life? Car problems I can’t afford to fix? My ever-expanding waistline? Probably…
Cultural Fit? Why?
Do you really want new hires to fit into your culture? Or add to it?