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I just accepted a position as Software Development Manager at a new firm.

Thanks everyone, especially Mike and Mark, for all the great advice over the last couple years.

Now I'm feeling a little Panic though.. Time to start the "Trinity" Mantra ;-)

WillDuke's picture
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Congratulations Greg! Go get 'em!

bflynn's picture

The credit always goes to the one in the ring. Nice Job!

Your first as a manager?

Brian

KCSmith's picture

Congrats Greg! Way to go!

KC :D

akinsgre's picture

[quote="bflynn"]The credit always goes to the one in the ring. Nice Job!

Your first as a manager?

Brian[/quote]

Thanks for asking. Yes. I've had some Team Lead roles, but this is my first with "real" direct reports.

juliahhavener's picture
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Congratulations, Greg! Prepare to ride the wave. The trinity really makes a difference. It was a huge benefit to me when I made the leap.

bflynn's picture

[quote="akinsgre"]
Thanks for asking. Yes. I've had some Team Lead roles, but this is my first with "real" direct reports.[/quote]

When things seem to get weird, remember that you're now "Them". Look for advice from your boss and your new peers.

Welcome aboard!

Brian

suedavis's picture
Training Badge

[quote="akinsgre"]Thanks for asking. Yes. I've had some Team Lead roles, but this is my first with "real" direct reports.[/quote]

Welcome to the other side, then; I made the same jump five months ago. If you're already listening to MT, it's going to be less of an adjustment than you think, although it's going to be a real wrench to not be doing lots of coding....

Is your new job still in Pittsburgh?

akinsgre's picture

[quote="futabachan"][quote="akinsgre"]Thanks for asking. Yes. I've had some Team Lead roles, but this is my first with "real" direct reports.[/quote]

Welcome to the other side, then; I made the same jump five months ago. If you're already listening to MT, it's going to be less of an adjustment than you think, although it's going to be a real wrench to not be doing lots of coding....

Is your new job still in Pittsburgh?[/quote]

It's a bit of a "working" management position. They except me to be able to take on some of the technical load.

I'll just have to make sure I'm doing the "right" coding, instead of my usual inclination to do the most interesting coding ;-)

Yes it's still in Pittsburgh.

One thing I'm going to be doing over the next couple weeks is reading a lot, listening to the "starter" podcasts again, and reading through the forums for "getting started" posts.

If anyone has any suggestions for forum posts that might be particularly relevant, I'd appreciate some links.

suedavis's picture
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[quote="akinsgre"]It's a bit of a "working" management position. They except me to be able to take on some of the technical load.[/quote]

So is mine, in theory. I was originally hired with the idea that I'd be doing 80% coding and 20% management... then 50-50, and now I'm having trouble blocking off one day per week to do enough coding to be able to steer the team effectively and evaluate my people's work. And we now have an open job req for another developer to pick up the technical load that I'm not contributing to let me manage effectively. I still have a paddle in my hand, but I'm sitting in the back of the canoe doing lots of J strokes to steer the canoe, rather than to propel it through the water.

In my case, our CTO got fired, and I've had to pick up some of the load from the two levels above me. But even without that, O3's plus the usual load of outward-facing tasks eat up quite a bit of my week.

ccleveland's picture

[quote="akinsgre"]... "working" management ...[/quote]

Uh oh. He said "working" management... :twisted:

Greg... I'm sure you'll see it on thread or hear it in a podcast at some point: everybody works. We do know what you mean.

Congratulations!!!!

CC

akinsgre's picture

[quote="ccleveland"][quote="akinsgre"]... "working" management ...[/quote]

Uh oh. He said "working" management... :twisted:

[/quote]

:D

I think my fear, over the last couple days, is not "understanding" the right balance at this new position.

Along with the MT 'casts, I've been reading "First 90 Days" and am focusing on what types of communication I'll need to do day one at the job to make sure I have the right priorities.

Has anyone had experiences where the actual work their boss expected was completely different than what they anticipated when they started the position?

wendii's picture
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Greg,

Congratulations! I'm glad your hard work has paid off.

As to your question:

[quote]Has anyone had experiences where the actual work their boss expected was completely different than what they anticipated when they started the position?[/quote]

I'd start it: has anyone not?! What you think, your team, your boss, your customers, will all be different. Working out how to reconcile those is part of what you do for the first 90 days (imho).

Wendii

akinsgre's picture

[quote="wendii"]Greg,

Congratulations! I'm glad your hard work has paid off.
[/quote]

Thanks!

[quote="wendii"]

I'd start it: has anyone not?! What you think, your team, your boss, your customers, will all be different. Working out how to reconcile those is part of what you do for the first 90 days (imho).[/quote]

I think my question didn't really reflect what I was thinking. Of course what you say is true.

For me, there is a lot of dissonance related to entering a new "situation" and understanding what the 90 day plan should be.

It feels like I "know" what to expect considering my experience at many other software development organizations. But I don't want to "DO" too quickly, so I"m having a hard time thinking about what my first steps will need to be, and how quickly I need to begin getting those "Quick Wins" and developing my 90 day plan.

I read a "summary" for _First 90 Days_, but think I need to get the full book and start reading it ASAP.

Thanks again, for all the advice.