S02E08 - Managing everything everywhere, all at once.

Engineering Advice You Didn't Ask For

We delve deep into the art of management from all angles. We explore myriad scenarios related to peers, managers, and stakeholders.

From unpacking the complexities that arise when someone takes an issue about your work performance to a manager without confronting you first to the importance of trust, transparency, and direct communication in such situations, we bring you real-life experiences, hypothetical scenarios, and strategies to establish clear expectations with your superiors.

Our discussion goes to the unique challenges presented when half-allocations come into play, with an individual torn between two managers on different projects. We share the inherent difficulties such scenarios bring, with contrasting feedback and conflicting priorities muddying the waters. Venturing into the realm of "SWAT" or "tiger" teams, we dissect the dynamics of assembling high-performing individuals from various departments for high-profile projects. Through shared experiences, we also discuss the value of direct communication, especially when repeated issues arise, and what to do before escalation.

Finally, the conversation shifts to resource and budget management. We dissect the challenges posed when expected resources are halved or entirely missing and offer strategies for reallocation and optimization. Touching upon tech debt, we shed light on the importance of its framing in terms of business impact and how to make it resonate with higher-ups.