Posts by Marcus Blankenship
Q&A: “Priorities for a new development manager?”
A list member, Pat, wrote in this weekend. They were kind enough to allow me to reply to the list so we can all learn. I’ve been following you for a while and I respect you opinion. My company just hired a development manager as a new position between the VP of Development and our…
Read MoreChewy Motivation
In 1996 I started programming Character Mode UI ERP applications at my last job. We referred to them has “ChUI” apps (pronounced “Chewy”). This was in the 90s when desktop apps were all the rage, and the web wasn’t really a thing yet. By the time I finished working on that platform in 2002, the…
Read MoreA new question for your 1:1’s
In your next 1:1 meeting, try asking this question: “What past project or success would you love to build on if given a chance?” This is a great way to understand what excites your developers. It also helps you know them better and build a more motivating environment. You might not be able to give…
Read MoreIs teamwork like pulling teeth?
Next month I’m holding a 2.5-day live workshop in Medford, Oregon which I think you’d find useful. It teaches you how to work better with your team. And it teaches your team how to work better together. Wait, I know – “improving teamwork” sounds about as much fun as “improving root canals.” Most of us…
Read MoreCurrying decisions
In functional programmers, currying is the technique of translating a function which takes multiple arguments into a sequence of functions, each with a single argument. For example, a function like: go_to_lunch?(time,place,person) might be curried to the form: go_to_lunch?(time)(place)(person) In this case, go_to_lunch take a single argument (time) and returns an anonymous function which takes a…
Read MoreFame not included (or necessary)
Today I was asked a question I’ve never heard before: “When it comes to engineering management, who do you look up to?” I stammered a bit, naming off authors of books I’d read — the usual suspects: Michael Lopp, Camille Fournier, Ron Lichty, Johanna Rothman, etc. Afterward, I realized I hadn’t been truthful. I didn’t…
Read More”If your programmer refers a friend, consider it red flag on the candidate”
Recently someone told me they received an email like this from their boss: “Folks, I know we need to hire a lot of engineers quickly… but I’m not impressed with the candidates our team has referred. The two we’ve hired are iffy at best. They are too much like our current folks. So, if your…
Read MoreWhen you do nothing it leads to the best somethings
Today you will hear someone pose a problem. Immediately, a solution may jump to mind. It might be a good solution, too. A solution you know will work – tried and true. Maybe even the best solution. Today, when the moment comes, do nothing. Be silent and still. If you’re able, raise an eyebrow: “What…
Read MoreA one-second experiment about words
Today let’s run a one-second experiment about words: First, read this quote from a study: “Research shows that taking two deep breaths helps to clear the mind, reduce stress, and improve problem-solving abilities. Often participants aren’t aware of their shallow breathing until prompted.” Did you notice any change to your own breathing as you read…
Read MoreWhere did the motivation go?
Smart people, like programmers, are motivated by solving problems. The challenge is what motivates them. The popularity of video games, role playing games, and escape rooms testify to this. Lucky for us, building software well is a difficult challenge. Why, then, do so many programmers feel bored with their jobs? There is still software to…
Read MoreThe Only Leadership Theory That Matters
There are lots of leadership theories running around. Servant Leadership, Adaptive Leadership, Great Man Theory… the list goes on and on. But in the end, only one leadership theory matters: the theory that your team has about you. My first Leadership Theory My first job was at Taco Bell, where I held the esteemed title…
Read MoreTech Leader Fortune Cookie #133
Adolf Loos, the great architect, said, “If you gave me gold, I would still use wood.” Have you ever offered your team gold, yet they still used wood? How did you react?
Read MoreTech Leader Fortune Cookie #122
“Leaders say they want outcomes, but they act as though they want effort” – John Cutler
Read MoreTech Leader Fortune Cookie #121
The tree’s joy is the bird in its branches. The programmer’s joy is the person using their software. What is the leader’s joy?
Read MoreTech Leader Fortune Cookie #120
If your feature and bug backlog got wiped away today, what would you do? What would be worse? What would be better?
Read More