Use a PIP, or just fire them?

If you’ve been on my list for a while now, you know I want to help you become a better tech manager.

One way I do this is by helping you see situations from new perspectives, often your team’s perspective.

What Jack (probably) thought about being fired

On Wednesday I mentioned that I’d fired Jack out-of-the-blue rather than put him on a PIP.

He didn’t pick up on my “performance hints”, so he never really knew there was a problem.

”Grown up” issues

I believe 99% of issues which get people fired were “no big deal” at one point.

But then, the issues “grew up.”

Pull the weeds while they’re small, and you’ll need weed killer less often.

TL;DR

If only I’d had more time

I was having dinner with some colleagues last night, and toward the end, one of them said to me, “I’ve noticed a theme when you describe your life. You seem to make time to think.”

I guess Ananya’s situation looked familiar.

Last Saturday I sent out a situation and asked if it looked familiar, and what you might do about it.

I got quite a few responses, and summarize them here.

Does this sound familiar?

I’m using this example in the book I’m writing, and want to see if this sounds familiar to you.

Ananya: “Marcus, which class should contain the method to check if we have new orders? I need to add it for the feature I’m working on today.”

Games Socrates played

My boss, Rob, always to asked “Socratic” questions when I came to him with a question.

And, frankly, I hated it. I dreaded going into Rob’s office.

One day, after spending 20 minutes with him trying to answer his Socratic questions, I…

My haunted closet

There is a tiny closet in the front room of the beach house where I’m staying this week, in Santa Cruz, CA.

The closet has no light switch. Instead, the inside light is on a motion sensor.

Our newest sponsor comes bearing gifts

I’m pleased to introduce our newest sponsor, O’Reilly Media. You know them for publishing the very highest quality technical books, with recent favorites like The Managers Path. (They are also the publisher of my upcoming book, Leading Programmers, so I might be…