There’s a lot of good writing out there by engineering managers who want to code but can’t anymore. What about *wanting to want* to code, though? :
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/burnout-ch...

Today’s post is about one of the least enjoyable parts of management: comp planning. It’s easy to forget that each number in your spreadsheet represents a distinct point in someone’s financial journey. Read on to learn all about comp convo trap #1: apathy:
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/unpleasant...

“I was a senior engineer on the verge of staff with precisely zero systems design experience.
How was I hired into this role without it, you ask?
I don’t know.“

This week’s post is about decision making, insecurity, and assuming best intent.

natashajaffe.substack.com/p/that-time-...

"Overloaded engineers quickly turn into burned out engineers. ...Pick up a shovel."
I used to run this exercise with my overloaded engineers as a manager when it was clear that they couldn't dig out on their own:
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/reducing-y...

In this week's post I explore project blockers that aren't really blockers with a short detour through postpartum land:
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/stinky-lit...

Key takeaways include:
1. Dependencies <> blockers
2. Routine is good until it isn't

#software #project-management #litter-boxes

Some folks have excellent meeting endurance but I decidedly do not. This week's post is about what I do not just to get by but to turn meetings into something that I can actually engage with.
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/my-meeting...

This week's post:
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/it-will-be...

3 hours ago

For any software engineer who has been hit with the well intended but not terribly helpful “how can I help” line mid-Incident from their manager:
natashajaffe.substack.com/p/crawling-o...

Part 2 of the burnout chronicles! Reflections on my career pause and the critical role of boredom.
open.substack.com/pub/natashaj...

Joel Spolsky was right to rag on in-house dev back in 2007 but he missed one thing it has going for it: proximity to the user! This week's post is all about why it rocks and the shenanigans engineers get up to when they don't have it.

natashajaffe.substack.com/p/my-thought...