effective management: getting the best from your team
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Effective Management: Getting the Best from Your Team. Pete Isensee Principal Program Manager Xbox Platform Team. About Me. Development Failures. Of 500 real world development efforts 15% cancelled or aborted Of those that lasted 25+ work-years 25% failed to complete - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Effective Management:Effective Management:Getting the Best from Your TeamGetting the Best from Your Team
Pete IsenseePrincipal Program ManagerXbox Platform Team
About MeAbout Me
Development FailuresDevelopment FailuresOf 500 real world development efforts•15% cancelled or abortedOf those that lasted 25+ work-years•25% failed to complete
For the overwhelming majority, there was not a single technological issue to explain the failure.
– DeMarco and Lister, Peopleware
Key TakeawayKey Takeaway
Pop QuizPop Quiz• Who has a sociology degree?• Who took management classes in school?• Who has a manager mentor?• Who has read any books on management?• Who has been to a manager training class?
Recipe for SuccessRecipe for Success• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
HiringHiring• Use your network• Need: smart & productive• Examine portfolios• Involve the team• Compare notes• Make a decision
Effective hiring managers never settle for “good enough”
Key TakeawayKey Takeaway
Recipe for SuccessRecipe for Success• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
Trust CycleTrust Cycle
Motivational TacticsMotivational Tactics• Be real• Think long term• Celebrate progress• Try something new• Foster l’esprit de corps• Maximize the workspace• The trivial and the silly are neither
Team ChemistryTeam Chemistry• Build a cult of quality• Cultivate a sense of eliteness• Encourage diversity• Foster employee connections• Give strategic, not tactical, advice
Key TakeawayKey Takeaway
Recipe for SuccessRecipe for Success• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
6Ps: Setting Course6Ps: Setting Course• Premise
• Purpose
• Principles• Priorities• Plan• People
6Ps: Example6Ps: Example• Premise: The game engine keeps crashing
• Purpose: Improve the quality of the engine
• Principles: Invest for the future, minimize content changes, evaluate multiple options
• Priorities: Quality, efficiency, readability, …• Plan: Investigate middleware, hire consultant, …• People: …
Cut LooseCut Loose• Trust the team• Foster work/life balance• Don’t waste the team’s
time• Build consensus
Manage ChangeManage Change• Improvements
involve change• Fundamental
response to change: emotional
• Celebrate the status quo first
Key TakeawayKey Takeaway
Recipe for SuccessRecipe for Success• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
I’m ListeningI’m Listening• Give feedback• Shortly before or after behavior• Start with what you like• Talk about ways to improve
• Receive feedback• Ask for feedback• Listen• Two valid responses: “Thanks” and “Go on”
Key TakeawaysKey Takeaways
Recipe for SuccessRecipe for Success• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
Failure is Not an OptionFailure is Not an Option• Match skillset to the work• Don’t delay• Pave the way• Coordinate with mgmt, HR, legal• Your team will thank you
Key TakeawaysKey Takeaways
General People Mgmt TacticsGeneral People Mgmt Tactics• Use Different Communication Modes• Get People Alone• Get People Together• Hunt People Down• Hide/Work Offsite• Grant Authority• Get Advice• Go on Walkabout• Call in Favors• Stack the Deck• Buy People Coffee/Donuts
Remember the RecipeRemember the Recipe• Hire the best• Motivate and inspire• Turn them loose• Give feedback• Manage underperformers
Takeaways for Effective ManagersTakeaways for Effective Managers
ResourcesResources• Email: [email protected]• Website: tantalon.com• DeMarco & Lister: Peopleware• Spolsky: Guerilla Guide to Interviewing (web)• Berkun: Making Things Happen• Brechner: Hard Code