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Giving feedback

A Primer On Giving Critical Feedback

Have you ever told an employee, or even a peer, that she is going against expectations, and that she should do something differently? To a lot of us, this can feel very uncomfortable. We do not know how the other person will react. Maybe she will become angry or upset. Last minute, we ask ourselves what gives us the right to tell people off, and somehow there is no good opportunity to have the conversation, and, in the end, we postpone giving the critical feedback indefinitely. Does this sound familiar? It certainly happened to me...

Do you own your territory like this eagle does?

What's Your Territory?

In the animal kingdom, individuals define themselves in one of two ways - by their rank within a hierarchy (a hen in a pecking order, a wolf in a pack) or by their connection to a territory (a home base, a hunting ground, a turf). This is how individuals - humans as well as animals - achieve psychological security. They know where they stand. The world makes sense.

Do you own your territory like this eagle does?

Recalibrate Your Productivity Sensors

Becoming an engineering manager is a paradigm shift that many struggle with at first. I think that one of the psychological difficulties for new engineering managers, and certainly one that I was having, is that of perceived productivity. To a developer, managing people can feel mind-numbingly unproductive because you seemingly "cannot get anything done".

Do you own your territory like this eagle does?

Three Things Your Children Can Teach You About Management

When you become a mum or dad, you are definitely in for some funny and surprising moments where your children react in a totally unanticipated way. Example: I sit at my computer and fill out my tax return. My three year old son comes in and asks: "Daddy, may I help you at the a-pluter (computer)?" - "No, sorry, Max, you cannot help me here." The result: Max throws himself on the nearby couch in desperation, shouting out: "But why not? I am your friend after all." It was so cute (and heart-breaking) that even as I type these words, it makes me smile.