Tuesday Dispatch: Issue #82
Tuesday Dispatch: Issue #82
The Owl and The Beetle
A little more than 18 months ago, I attended "Write of Passage," an online writing course.
I learned three things at WOP7: writing in public, writing from abundance, and writing consistently.
Those principles resulted in starting this newsletter, establishing a sustainable process, and sticking to a weekly frequency. Rain or shine, in good times or bad times, I have been delivering this newsletter ever since.
For the next five weeks, I'm attending WOP10, the next cohort of Write of Passage. I’m so excited to see what the future brings!
This week we learn about building high-performing teams, the cost of craft, and compassion over empathy. As well as 38 remote activities for your team and the ultimate call to action library.
Let's get going!
3 Droplets of Leadership
Engineering Management and Technical Leadership: Building a High-Performance Team
To successfully manage a high-performing team, it is essential to be deliberate on several areas of responsibility: diversity, inclusion, compassion, empathy, giving and receiving feedback, direction, accountability, and consistency are some of the areas I recently discussed in a presentation for Lemon.io.
It's a fun watch, don't miss it!
If interested in recruiting engineers for your projects, check out Lemon.io.
The Cost of Craft
Working with a small, talented team can make designing and shipping software seem almost effortless. However, it is important not to take this for granted and assume that craft and quality are an inherent part of the company's identity. Certain advantages to being small can lead to a false sense of security.
Companies with a small, talented team and a clear vision can achieve high-quality products focusing on craftsmanship, as everyone is motivated to deliver excellence.
However, as teams and companies grow, the cost of maintaining quality and craftsmanship increases exponentially, requiring more time and energy to ensure consistency. To ensure continued success, it is essential to dedicate equal resources to preserving the foundational aspects that have enabled the company to reach its current level.
Don't miss this amazing article by George Kedenburg III.
Compassion Over Empathy
The term "empathy" has become widely used, leading to a potential for confusion and misinterpretation of its true meaning. To ensure that empathy remains a powerful tool for building connections and understanding, it is essential to clarify its definition.
Empathy is not only about understanding and considering the feelings of others but also requires understanding cultural and ethnic differences, which is increasingly essential in today's globalized world.
Additionally, strong communication skills and emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and self-regulation, are essential to utilize empathy effectively. Ultimately, empathy is an important part of effective leadership but must be accompanied by other skills to be truly effective.
More on compassion, sympathy, and empathy in my recent essay.
2 Grains of Technology
38 Remote Team Activities
If your team is remote and you are searching for fun activities together, look no further! Check these out!
The Ultimate Call To Action Examples Library
This page has everything you need to create conversion-boosting CTAs for any marketing goal. You'll create a call-to-action that's so good even your grandma will click on it.
1 Atom of Reflection
I recently had to take a trip to the ER, and once again, I was reminded how lucky I am.
I was visiting my parents, and my son got sick, so the only way to have him checked by a pediatrician was to go to the local ER. During the drive to the hospital, I was so convinced that we were handling a dramatic situation that I was tempted to run red lights, use dedicated lanes, and do all those things you can do during an emergency.
However, when we checked in, we were given a "green code, " meaning there was no imminent risk for the patient. Everyone was professional but calm. We were not calm; we were stressed and worried.
And that's why risk assessment on sick children must be done by cold professionals, not agitated parents.