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Communication

A collection of 16 posts

Just how much Project Management do you need?
Communication

Just how much Project Management do you need?

A software engineering project for a consulting company vs a product company can be very different animals.  Timelines can be longer in product companies. Less urgency. Less accountability. And probably less chance that

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
3 min read
The Engineering Director Paradox
Empathy

The Engineering Director Paradox

I love to code. Like all passionate engineers; if left alone, I can think of nothing better than to build new things. To create wonderful, elegant, simple solutions. I spent many man-years on

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
3 min read
Should happiness be a goal at work?
Empathy

Should happiness be a goal at work?

Your job is what you make it. Go into it with a bad attitude, and that will be reflected back to you. Be positive, help others and solve problems together and you'll be

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
4 min read
The Golden Rule of "Managing up"
Culture

The Golden Rule of "Managing up"

I admit to saying "I can easily fix problems below me, but the hardest problems are above me". I still believe this, but I think many people misinterpret the statement. If you're thinking

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
4 min read
Project Management: How to screw up your software projects
Project Management

Project Management: How to screw up your software projects

You know the saying "Opinions are like assholes - everyone has one"? Well, project management processes and tools are similar - everyone has their own special setup. So this article isn't intended to

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
4 min read
Taking notes in your one-on-ones - it's tricky
Team

Taking notes in your one-on-ones - it's tricky

You should always take notes in your one-on-ones with the team, but how you do that is a tricky question to answer. Do your brain a favor Just the act of taking notes

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
4 min read
Which kind of Engineering Director are you? And why you need help.
About

Which kind of Engineering Director are you? And why you need help.

Many titles are given to our role. I've been called Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, Senior Director of Engineering and Vice President of Engineering - and when I interviewed at Amazon, they called

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
2 min read
Why it's critical you take new hires to lunch - a checklist
Team

Why it's critical you take new hires to lunch - a checklist

Do you remember your first day at your company? Even the most confident of us were wondering what to do and who to meet. Hopefully there is a wonderful onboarding process to walk

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
3 min read
It's ok to admit you're wrong
Team

It's ok to admit you're wrong

As I was writing Programmers really need open floor plans [https://www.tellthemeverything.com/programmers-really-need-open-floor-plans/] I found myself thinking about a story that I had been confidently telling for years as an example

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
2 min read
Programmers really need open floor plans
Environment

Programmers really need open floor plans

As soon as Joel Spolsky talked at GeekWire Summit [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1V8OUOb-Hw] recently, Twitter lit up with articles like Programmers really hate open floor plans [http://qz.com/806583/

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
3 min read
Helping Departments work together
Communication

Helping Departments work together

As well as Helping Engineering teams work together [https://www.tellthemeverything.com/helping-teams-work-together/] you'll also review the way departments interact at a higher level. Soon after meeting your team [https://www.tellthemeverything.com/

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
2 min read
Helping Engineering teams work together
Communication

Helping Engineering teams work together

Although the Engineering department is our domain, we do not sit in isolation. We simply can't do our job without many interactions with other teams or departments. Encourage communication I've said it before

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
3 min read
Publish an Engineering weekly newsletter
Culture

Publish an Engineering weekly newsletter

As soon as you can, start sending a weekly newsletter to the Engineering team. And by 'as soon as you can', I mean start this week. > The aim is to share what you

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
2 min read
Team too big for one-on-ones?
Culture

Team too big for one-on-ones?

I received some great feedback about One-on-Ones with your team [https://www.tellthemeverything.com/one-on-ones/] today. In that article I said that: > At some number of people - probably between 20 and 30

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
2 min read
One-on-Ones with your team
Culture

One-on-Ones with your team

After your team introduction, one-on-one's are the next item on your agenda. They are the most important part of your job. Through one-on-ones you will find the true story behind the scenes of

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
4 min read
What is "Tell Them Everything"?
About

What is "Tell Them Everything"?

I'm James Shaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesshaw], and I have led software teams since my first company back in the UK in 1990 - leading teams of up to 45 technical

  • James Shaw
    James Shaw
1 min read
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