List: The Engineering Manager’s Pocket Guide | Curated by Nitin Dhar

Mar 13, 2024
23 stories
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The Engineering Manager’s Pocket Guide
Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Manager of managers — health checksThis post is part of a series I’m working on called “Manager of managers”, the previous post of which was “Outcomes over output”. In this…
3 min read·Mar 13, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
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Total Engineering Management
Dumped into the fire — now what?💬 The following is a short reflection from a recent conversation with an engineering manager friend as they on-board with their new…
3 min read·Mar 6, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Tech debt daysThink of tech debt days as dedicated time away from day-to-day projects where you get to Marie Kondo your codebase!
3 min read·Feb 24, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Code ownership in fluxThe 3 states of code ownership — and how org changes impact teams
3 min read·Feb 20, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Manager of managers — Outcomes over outputAs you grow senior in your role as an engineering leader a shift starts occurring. You start being measured on the ‘outcomes’ you deliver…
3 min read·Feb 15, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Manager of managers — Leverage is a double-edged swordIn my previous post, I talked about what changes to expect when managing managers. We briefly discussed topics like “output vs. outcome”…
2 min read·Feb 5, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Managing managers — what changes?You’ve mastered the art of managing engineering teams, excelling in stand-ups, planning sessions, and 1:1s. You’ve built a harmonious…
3 min read·Jan 30, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Empowering independent thinkingEmpowering engineers to think independently doesn’t mean disregarding established processes and guidelines. It means augmenting these wit…
3 min read·Jan 3, 2024
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Beyond the Feature FactoryAs an Engineering Manager (EM), you wield considerable influence. You can either remain entrenched in a relentless cycle of feature…
3 min read·Nov 29, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Cadences — engineering manager time horizonsIn this post I share observations on activities engineering managers (EMs) spend their time on. Given the broad scope, I’ve organized…
3 min read·Nov 26, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Continuous Team AdvocacyEngineering managers play a crucial role in not only leading their teams but also in advocating for them. This responsibility intensifies…
3 min read·Nov 15, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Defining “done” in software projectsThe definition of “Done” in software engineering teams can vary across different organizations. However, there are some common elements…
4 min read·Jul 26, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
“Time to X” — metrics your team should trackBeing part of a technology organization, you’re undoubtedly aware of the importance of metrics to guide decisions, track progress, and…
4 min read·Jul 19, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Leading vs. Managing in the Engineering WorldWhen we discuss engineering teams, two terms that often come up are leadership and management. These roles are critical and complementary…
4 min read·Jul 12, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Constructive Feedback Strategies Every Leader Should KnowDelivering feedback is both an art and a science. The ability to offer constructive, insightful, and actionable feedback is a critical to...
5 min read·Jul 6, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
One-way & Two-way Door DecisionsOne-way and two-way door decisions provide a practical framework for decision-making in software engineering management. The idea…
4 min read·Jun 20, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Stakeholder Management For Engineering LeadsRunning a successful engineering team is like navigating a busy city center. In the heart of the city, your team connects ideas, needs, and…
3 min read·Jun 13, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
How Engineering Managers Can Reduce Throw-Away WorkAn engineering team’s worst nightmare is the realization that a significant portion of the work they’ve done needs to be tossed out. It’s…
3 min read·Jun 6, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
Facilitating Cross-Team Projects For Engineering ManagersCross-functional software projects can be challenging to manage, like solving a complex puzzle. As we navigate this landscape, we can find…
3 min read·May 30, 2023
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Nitin Dhar
in
Total Engineering Management
From Busy to Productive: Time Management Tips for Engineering ManagersBeing an engineering manager often involves walking a tightrope of numerous responsibilities and tasks. However, amid the hustle, it’s easy…
4 min read·May 27, 2023
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