The Retrospective

In this episode of the ‘Retrospective’ podcast, we tackle one of the toughest challenges in engineering leadership: letting someone go. We begin by discussing the emotional weight and impact of termination, emphasizing that it’s one of the hardest tasks a manager faces. We outline a three-part structure: making the decision, having the conversation, and managing the aftermath. Key points include t...

In this episode of ‘The Retrospective,’ we dive into the topic of timeboxing as a method for engineering management. We start by explaining what timeboxing is and how it differs from time blocking. We then discuss its application in managing delivery, emphasizing the importance of fixing time while allowing scope to vary. We also cover practical benefits like simplifying planning, managing technic...

Should Engineering Managers Code? In this episode, we explore different perspectives, considering both current job market trends and organizational needs. We emphasize the advantages of managers being technical, covering scenarios where coding might be beneficial or detrimental. We outline the main areas engineering managers should focus on: execution, team health, and individual development. Towa...

Effective Delegation Using Task Relevant Maturity In this episode of the Retrospective podcast, Jeremy and Peter kick off the third season by discussing the concept of task relevant maturity in engineering leadership. They explore the common challenges new managers face, such as micromanagement and hands-off leadership. Jeremy introduces the idea from Andy Grove’s book ‘High Output Management,’ em...

In this episode of the ‘Retrospective’ podcast, we discuss the importance of taking breaks of various lengths to maintain energy, resilience, and mental health. We explain the concepts of macro breaks (e.g., vacations), meso breaks (e.g., long lunches, proper day-closing rituals), and micro breaks (e.g., standing up, brief stretches). We share actionable tips on planning and executing these breaks...

In this episode, we explore a challenge that plagues every engineering team: the constant stream of interruptions that disrupt our workflows. Drawing from our combined experiences working with dozens of engineering teams, we introduce the concept of the “firefighter” role - a structured approach to managing unplanned work that’s transformed how teams handle interruptions. We dive into the science...

In this episode, we discuss the topic of technical dept. We start with the basic definition, then share techniques about measuring, arguing about and addressing tech debt. A key concept is connecting the issues of technical dept to business goals, to show the concrete pain it causes to organizations. We also discuss prioritization tips and various good and bad examples we saw in our experience. Sh...

In this episode of The Retrospective podcast, co-hosts Jeremy and Peter delve into the characteristics that define a senior software engineer. They explore the multifaceted nature of seniority, emphasizing that it is not just about years of experience but a blend of technical expertise, business awareness, team impact, and leadership skills. Through analogies and personal anecdotes, they illustrat...

In this episode of the ‘Retrospective’ podcast, Jeremy and Peter explore crucial strategies for engineering managers transitioning to new teams. Emphasizing the importance of early trust-building, quick wins, and effective communication, they reference ‘The First 90 Days’ by Michael D. Watkins. They discuss understanding team dynamics, emotional intelligence, and the role of the previous manager i...

In this episode of The Retrospective, Peter and Jeremy discuss ‘quiet quitting’ in the workplace, a situation in which employees lose motivation and only do the minimum required. They discuss how to spot the signs and the reasons behind them, such as changes in company culture or personal struggles. The conversation also covers how managers can help motivate their team and maintain a positive envi...

Join Peter and Jeremy as they kickoff the first episode of Season 2, reflecting on their learnings from Season 1 and outlining exciting changes and plans for the new season. They discuss their experiences with podcasting, the challenges of editing, and the valuable feedback they received. This episode covers their motivation to provide focused, impactful content for early-stage engineering manager...

Getting Hired: The Recruiter's Perspective with special guest Peter Batiz This episode covers the challenges and opportunities engineering managers face, the importance of adapting to market changes, and building strong relationships with recruiters. Learn strategic negotiation tactics, key questions to ask during the interview process, and how to leverage publicly available information for inform...

Péter and Jeremy discuss the last stage of the interviewing process: the offer. They include strategies for managing job transitions, including securing roles, negotiating offers, and resigning professionally. The conversation shifts to the transformation of content creation with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, examining the initial advantages and later toxicities indu...

In the second part of the 8th episode of the podcast, Jeremy and Péter discuss engineering manager interview strategies, focusing on Péter’s co-authored article about interviewing for an EM position. They emphasize the importance of the hiring manager interview for showcasing decision-making trustworthiness and delve into technical tests, case studies, and the role of psychometric tests and AI-ass...

In this episode of 'The Retrospective' podcast, engineering leaders Jeremy and Peter discuss Peter’s series on getting hired as an engineering manager, focusing on the interview process. The conversation covers preparation strategies, building relationships with recruiters, adapting to the current job market, and the importance of diversity in hiring. Throughout, Jeremy and Peter provide p...

In this episode of the 'Retrospective' weekly podcast, Jeremy and Peter discuss key engineering leadership topics. Jeremy delves into his latest article on the four essential weekly ceremonies for engineering managers to ensure smooth and predictable execution. The ceremonies include the weekly kickoff, daily sync, one-on-one meetings, and the weekly review. Peter shares his recent experim...

In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of career security over job security in the changing tech landscape, highlighting strategies for sustaining and advancing one's career in 2024. Then, we explore the Innovation Framework based on the Möbius Loop for balancing discovery, delivery, and options in the software development life cycle. We also urge organisations to consider capturi...

Jeremy’s article on How to Innovate: https://www.jeremybrown.tech/how-to-innovate Clayton Christensen’s books on Disruptive Innovation (Jeremy was referring to “The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail”): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19203217-disruptive-innovation Lex Fridman and Mark Zuckerberg interview in the Metaverse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Chapters (notes below): 00:00::00 Awkward intros 00:00:51 Reflecting on Benoit's (CPTO of Lunii) guest appearance last week and the 4 day work week 00:14:28 What correlates with happiness? 00:28:59 Peter's articles on getting hired as an EM - part 1 & 2 00:32:32 Hands on/Hands off Engineering Managers 00:39:02 You need to have multiple CVs! 00:44:07 Drop some nuggets in your CV 00:46:3...

Show Notes: Lunii, where our guest Benoit is CPTO: https://lunii.com/ Lunii’s LinkedIn announcement about going 4-day a week: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196425731042693121/ Two other French companies mentioned who do 4-day a week: https://www.ldlc.com/ and https://www.welcometothejungle.com/ Péter’s article about a 4-day workweek experiment at Magyar Telekom: https://pet...

Episode #2 of The Retrospective Live Show Show Notes:Apple ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntjkwIXWtrc Peter's Focus article: https://peterszasz.com/why-cant-i-focus/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/, OSS alternative: Link Stack https://linkstack.org/ Tom Demarco: Slack https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123715.Slack Timeboxing hobby article - https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist/h...

Jeremy & Peter discuss their weekly newsletters. Share your thoughts about the episode (and the podcast) at feedback@the-retrospective.com !

Raw and unedited, this was our pilot or test recording that motivated us to take this experiment further. Share your thoughts about the episode (and the podcast) at feedback@the-retrospective.com !