Read on Twitter
There was no handbook I could reference for leading a software development team through a global pandemic, civil unrest, and political upheaval in the world's oldest democracy, but that's what I had to do for most of 2020.
Here are a few things I learned.
Here are a few things I learned.
1 - Space
With so much going on, I wanted work to be the smallest item on my team's mind. So, I simplified our work as much as possible to provide as much space as possible for what's really important: their personal lives. When scope could be reduced, I advocated for it.
With so much going on, I wanted work to be the smallest item on my team's mind. So, I simplified our work as much as possible to provide as much space as possible for what's really important: their personal lives. When scope could be reduced, I advocated for it.
2 - Pace
My team is as GTD as they come, but I knew that the outside world presented major headwinds. So, I let them know that we needed to find a pace that felt right, and it wasn't last year's pace.
It took time, but we found a way to meet our objectives and catch our breath.
My team is as GTD as they come, but I knew that the outside world presented major headwinds. So, I let them know that we needed to find a pace that felt right, and it wasn't last year's pace.
It took time, but we found a way to meet our objectives and catch our breath.
3 - Grace
Turmoil brings distractions which lead to mistakes. We made mistakes that we normally wouldn't make. I focused on learning from any missteps instead of agonizing over them. I reminded them of the wells of support they head from me, our VPE, and the top of the company.
Turmoil brings distractions which lead to mistakes. We made mistakes that we normally wouldn't make. I focused on learning from any missteps instead of agonizing over them. I reminded them of the wells of support they head from me, our VPE, and the top of the company.
4 - Place
We work for a fully remote company, and it's hard to establish a sense of place in that context. Thankfully, we found time to remotely play together, hang together, and make long overdue technical investments.
I wanted us to feel the team was our spot with our people.
We work for a fully remote company, and it's hard to establish a sense of place in that context. Thankfully, we found time to remotely play together, hang together, and make long overdue technical investments.
I wanted us to feel the team was our spot with our people.
I'm lucky to have done all of this at @helpscout where I have a platform of support within the Experience Org as well as trusted partners in our other departments. I can't say enough about the leadership at the top of the company. Leading with leaders makes everything easier.
I never want to repeat 2020, but I hope to take and apply these lessons to every year I have the privilege to lead software development teams. They're good principles even when it doesn't feel like every day is an unprecedented one.
