GenAI tools are changing what software engineers do day to day—but not in the ways most executives think. In this co-authored piece with Teal Bauer, we cut through the hype to examine what's actually happening: where these tools genuinely help, what humans still do better, and why many engineers are experiencing an identity crisis. Plus, tactical advice for engineering leaders navigating this transition with their teams over the next 30-60 days.

I explore the three leadership traits that are often deemed crucial for leaders in tech: Driving innovation, getting things done, and being authentic. I examine each of those and show how they’ve been used to gloss over problematic consequences for individuals, our industry, and beyond. I also share many practical tips for leaders dealing with these issues.

Managing your CV is one of the most powerful skill sets that any job seeker can develop. It's also an often-overlooked skill, but can make a huge difference in how you experience your job search and how your professional background is perceived by potential employers. Whether you're just starting your career or you're a seasoned leader, this guide is designed to help you navigate the CV creation process in a way that benefits both parties.

Like many of you, during the tech downturn of the last 2 years, I've been trying to understand how the industry has shape-shifted beyond the news headlines: What does the tech industry look like now? How exactly have organizations and their priorities changed? What impact and influence do AI actually have, beyond the hype? And what is it like to be, become, and interview to work as a leader in this changed environment? Today, I have the data-based answers for you: The Engineering Leadership Report 2024, which I'm publishing in collaboration with tech events & publishing company ⁠LeadDev⁠.

Do you want to handle difficult conversations better? Are you clashing with higher-ups who can’t seem to get on the same page? Is your team not receptive to change? Here are questions from leaders and my answers for when you have to communicate a decision you disagree with.

Overwhelm is common among engineering leaders, but we don’t talk about it much. In this article, you’ll find common sources of overwhelm to help you recognize it in yourself, or support peers, and strategies from my work with many leaders dealing with this that can help you cope and get better.

This article 3-step guide will help you support your teams in recovering from difficult organizational changes. It shows how to shift from control to empowerment, involve your leadership teams, and how to show up as a leader for your teams. This guide will help you foster a culture of empowerment to drive innovation and success during difficult transitions.

Strategies for leaders guiding teams after tough changes like layoffs and reorganizations. We contrast high-control and high-empowerment approaches, and why you should resist the temptation of focusing on motivating your employees to process the change as quickly as possible, and what to do instead.

What do you do when you’re asked to execute on a company decision with your team(s) and direct reports, but you disagree with the decision? This step-by-step guide will help you navigate a tricky and complex situation.

If you have been unfortunate enough to lose your engineering job, I’m here to help. In this article I lay out three practical sets of steps to take after you’ve been laid off, to help take care of admin, while preparing yourself for what comes next.

Times of change are some of the hardest to lead in - not only do leaders need to be able to respond to change and deal with high degrees of ambiguity, but they also need to take charge of creating change. Learn the theory of change and successfully lead change in your organization.

Employees may question or outright be against organizational changes. Many startups and scale-ups handle a lot of change, often complicated by initially puzzling employee reactions. Here are concrete steps you can take to address this.

Steps that managers and leaders can take in times of difficult times to support their teams, take care of themselves, and influence change in their company.

Practical tips and checklists for managing and communicating in crisis for team leads, managers, and executives. With a free template for crisis communication and tips based on professional experience.