10x Teams
From time to time, people revisit the concept of ‘10x engineers’ and contemplate whether that is purely a mythical creature. Well, having witnessed such engineers and teams in the past several times, I know the answer, and in this article, I’ll attempt to list some of the team concepts, processes, and skills that enabled those results. Surely, you’ll find a couple you can benefit from.
^ADJ: Takeouts from me that apply to all teams:
- Expectation Setting - how often when we get this right do we see projects or teams take off!
- Managers are genuine force multipliers
- Getting internal communication right
- Minimising fluff (love this)
Breaking Down ‘Executive Presence’…and How to Develop It, Too
The phrase “executive presence” is frequently tossed around like the key to unlocking professional success. But ask what it means, and you’re often met with a vague and nebulous definition.
^ADJ: Key quote for me "Another way to think about executive presence is the ability to hold others accountable"
I Like Dumb Plans
I’ve seen a lot of startup growth, and I like dumb plans. I like plans that can fit on a single Powerpoint slide. I like plans that don’t require you to know frameworks, or methodologies, or advanced math to determine whether they make sense. I like plans that don’t require internal training for teams to execute. My toddler and I share the same aesthetics when it comes to our plans: A picture or two, not too many words, and those few words aren’t very long.
^ADJ: I like actionable plans where sequencing has been well thought out in terms of execution
How to take the high road
When someone provokes you, it’s easy to react without thinking. Learn to slow down and respond in ways you’ll be proud of ...
Managing Underperformers
Kind managers address underperformance early and accurately. Underperformance is when a person or a team is not bearing their share of the organization’s load. Their colleagues are either relying on them and getting let down, or they’ve learned not to rely on them at all. There are two fully unrelated causes of underperformance: Refusal to Align and Failure to Execute.
^ADJ: One of the hardest activities as a manager, dealing with under performance!
How to prevent jargon monoxide and minimize employee friction
For a book about business administration, “The Friction Project” offers a surprising amount of advice about internal communications. Or maybe not. The book “is about forces that make it harder, slower, more complicated, or downright impossible to get things done in organizations,” according to the authors, two professors at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Poor communication is often a big barrier.
How to read a business book
I like reading magic books. I don’t do magic. Not often (and not well). But reading the books is fun. It’s a vicarious thing, imagining how a trick might work, visualizing the effect and then smiling at how the technique is done. One after another, it’s a pleasant adventure ....
^ADJ: Point 2 is the most important: "If you’re going to invest a valuable asset (like time), go ahead and make it productive".