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Tuesday Dispatch

Tuesday Dispatch: Issue #77

The Owl and The Beetle

Luca Sartoni

Mar 14, 2023

This week we learn about delegation, golf, and emotional intelligence. As well as smashing your following tech interview and Taskade.

Let’s get going!

3 Droplets of Leadership

Delegation Is an Art, Not a Science

When managers reach the "Delegate these tasks" quadrant of the Eisenhower matrix, they may experience difficulty in delegating tasks, as it can appear to require more time, energy, and focus than completing the project alone.

Each project will be distinct, and each team member you assign will possess their strengths and weaknesses, areas of expertise, support system, and possibly some skills they need to develop. To delegate efficiently, you must prepare in a fashion tailored to the project, context, and person.

Read more on delegation by Lara Hogan.

And if you want to go even deeper on the tools and processes you can put in place for a super effective delegation strategy in your team, you can check out my recent essay on the topic:

The Owl and The Beetle

Delegation Tactics: From Creating Followers To Creating Leaders.

I had the privilege of mentoring several managers throughout my career, and many expressed stress when delegating tasks to their reports. The popular notion that a good manager should get out of the way and let people get things done does not capture the complexity of delegation. The best managers I know understand that delegation is a skill that requires thoughtful design and consideration of the unique project and people involved…

6 months ago · 1 like · Luca Sartoni

I also recently published the ebook: “Delegation 101 for first-time engineering managers”. Here is a 2 Euro coupon if you want to read it.

Management Is Not a Game of Perfect

Golfing proficiency is not acquired overnight, nor is it free. It is a process that requires listening to one's body and consistent practice. New skills can be developed daily, gradually improving one's game.

As a manager, it is essential to take the time to gain your team's trust and develop the necessary skills to succeed.

Check out this excellent essay on management and golf by Gabriel Sambarino.

How to Improve Emotional Intelligence

It is widely acknowledged that emotional intelligence is of great value, yet its rationale may sometimes need to be clarified. Understanding people's emotions is challenging when you have low emotional intelligence (EQ).

Conversely, having a high EQ helps us make decisions that consider the emotional consequences of our actions rather than relying solely on logic. Improving your EQ can help you identify your feelings and options before taking action.

For example, you may get frustrated with someone for not following an instruction, only to realize later that the problem was caused by your failure to communicate properly.

Read here about EQ.

2 Grains of Technology

10 Repositories That Will Transform The Way You Approach Technical Interviews

This Twitter thread provides all the necessary resources to help you succeed in your next technical interview. It offers a comprehensive computer science study plan, guidance on designing scalable systems, and more.

Taskade

Taskade provides a unified workspace for teams to collaborate on tasks, notes, and communication, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. Check it out!

1 Atom of Reflection

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.” Cheshire Cat by Lewis Carroll