I wrote about “Management 101” long time ago. By now, you should have mastered the basics. Right? 🙂
A while ago, few senior managers got together in Santa Clara, California. We talked about what a new manager must master to succeed. No doubt, delivery is the foundation. An engineering manager should be able to plan, execute, and communicate about the projects he or she is charged with. Beyond this basic, we enter the realm of managing people. Rule #1 is to focus on high performers. New managers make the mistake of spending disproportional amount of time on low performers to “rescue them” or to “coach them back.”
- Motivating
The secret is in knowing people and the secret to that is listening.
- Coaching/Development
Self-awareness is the first step. If your employee does not know where to go, there is little point constructing a path.
- Recruitment
How to judge a person in 30 seconds? Look for intelligence and energy, not experience.
- Firing People
Keep it simple. Be honest. Make sure HR is on your side.
- Performance Management
Maybe the employee should do a different job?
- Peer Relationships
Few projects can be done these day by one organization alone. Collaborative skills go vary far. The key to collaboration is the true understanding of the other party's interests.
- Managing up
Do you know what your boss wants? His or her priority? Does he or she know yours? Do you talk about each others' plans?
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