katemats.com

For two years I worked on a project, and when it finally shipped, I can remember our VP talking about the launch. I had never had much exposure to him (I was new, a grad straight out of school), but I remember his speech about the launch clearly. But in large organizations, changing the structure of a team is one of the best ways for leaders to improve alignment and strategically place their top people in a position to help them achieve better results. The most effective strategy I have seen in these circumstances is to set up regular reviews with team leadership to surface issues and help you stay involved with the day-to-day processes of the team.

I think that urge to jump in and get involved actually comes from my discomfort with conflict; I hate it so much, that one it comes up, I want to just dive into it so it can be over as soon as possible. When you find common ground, it becomes easier to compromise, since the other person’s perspective can feel relatable and reasonable, and you realize they are more like you than you thought. You might think you know why a person has a certain opinion or why they do their work a certain way, but don’t assume. However, the more you can listen to the other person, the more you will make them feel heard (which lowers the level of conflict) and the more you will understand their perspective (which will help you uncover what you need to know to find a resolution that will work).

Whether you are a leader, a programmer, or just someone aspiring to be better I am sure there are some smart takeaways from our conversation that will help you grow in your role Oh, and if you read to the end you can learn his favorite interview question – see if you would be able to pass his interview. The whole point of The Humble Programmer is that your brain power is your most limited resource so using smart tools is a good thing. A lot of books are more things people believe but there is no proof, you can’t always reproduce the results, so their books are better.no Kate’s Takeaway: There are a lot of smart lessons but perhaps the most important one is to always be pushing yourself, and to be smart about your brain power and energy (working smart).