The Manager of Managers

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People Driven Development

Eddie Flaisler, Morgan VanDerLeest

18 episodes

1 month ago

There are a number of ways to develop software: Test-driven, Behavior-driven, Product-driven, Customer-driven (to name a few). But once you move into engineering leadership, you're no longer dealing with software directly. It's all about People Driven Development. How do you work with people to drive this engineering product forward? How do you manage people so they feel seen, respected, emotionally safe, challenged, and empowered? How do you deliver business results and also focus relentlessly on people? Eddie and Morgan try to help their fellow engineering leaders through difficult situations where the problem isn't really technology at all.

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Management

Technology,

Business

The Manager of Managers

People Driven Development

50 minutes

7 months ago

The Manager of Managers

Eddie and Morgan discuss a listener's question about managing managers in engineering. They explore various frameworks and strategies necessary for overseeing managers, touching upon crucial elements like clarity, alignment, and execution. They dig into the potential pitfalls of mismanaging through, and the importance of psychological safety, autonomy, and succession planning. With concrete examples and practical advice, this episode is essential for anyone navigating the complexities of engineering leadership.

(00:00) - Introduction
(00:07) - Understanding the Role of a Manager of Managers
(00:41) - Listener's Question: Transitioning from IC to Senior Director
(01:15) - Challenges of Managing Managers
(01:51) - Defensible Organizational Design
(02:41) - Frontline Managers vs. Managers of Managers
(04:45) - The Value of Managers of Managers
(05:40) - The Reality of Senior Management
(11:28) - Diagnosing and Coaching Managers of Managers
(12:12) - Clarity, Alignment, and Execution
(17:24) - Measuring Clarity in Management
(20:13) - Alignment in Management
(26:10) - The Importance of a Writing Culture
(27:18) - Transparent Decision Logs
(28:17) - Standardized Release Cadence
(29:45) - Execution Challenges
(35:18) - Managing Through: The Micromanagement Trap
(43:37) - Succession Planning and Using Power for Good
(49:27) - Final Thoughts and Listener Feedback