Managing Up

  • Effective Engineering Manager, Managing Up

    Managing Up: Complaining

    We are starting a series on managing up. In this episode we talk about how not to communicate work issues to your boss. We define what complaining is and why complaining is ineffective. We provide a checklist that our listeners can use to see if their upward communications are in the complaining territory.

  • Effective Engineering Manager, Egineering Manager Tools, Managing Across, Managing Up

    Escalating Work Issues Effectively

    We offer an approach to escalating work issues that brings results without destroying relationships. We share what the escalations are, the impact of escalating unskillfully, and how to escalate professionally and effectively. In the end we provide a checklist that our listeners can use to escalate work issues effectively.

  • Building managers, Effective Engineering Manager, Managing Across, Managing Up, One-on-One

    Building Managers: Now That You Are A Manager

    Wrapping up the ‘becoming a manger series’ with guidance and steps on what new engineering managers can do once their training completes and they are now officially a manager. Guidance includes: managing introductions and the first couple of weeks; planning your first 30-60-90 days; setting up foundational meetings like 1-on-1s; building key lateral relationships; creating space for the team to get to know you and your plan.

  • Managing Up, One-on-One

    Effective One-One-Ones: 1:1s with New Boss

    We provide practical guidance on avoiding risks associated with 1:1s with a new boss. This continues the series on the Effective One-On-Ones. We also recommend checking out EEM episode "Practicing Observe and Absorb" that will help you to plan and implement a strategy for managing 1:1s with your new boss.

  • Effective Engineering Manager, Managing Across, Managing Up

    Practicing Observe and Absorb

    In this podcast we define the concept of 'observe and absorb', discuss why it is important and share practical recommendations to engineering managers on how to use this tool to unlock and build stronger working relationships. In the end, we share a checklist that engineering managers can use to start practicing "observe and absorb".