Category: Pitfalls and how to avoid them

Servant Leadership is a topic that I’ve seen frequently discussed and just as infrequently defined in the context of Software Engineering Management. I’ve seen practitioners of the craft lead extremely effective teams, but nearly as often, I’ve seen self-proclaimed servant leaders use that mantle as a justification for neglecting their team and abdicating responsibility for…

Don’t assume your manager, or anyone else, knows what you want, what your goals are, or what you are feeling at that moment. If you share your goals with your manager, you give them the ability to help you out and make choices that benefit everyone

It’s easy for engineers to assume that management decisions are made maliciously, if they are not shared with enough context and explanation. You cannot demand your team to trust you, but you can earn their trust by consistently showing your work and explaining what goals you hope to achieve.