Engineering Leader | DevOps Enthusiast | Strategic Thinker | PhD in Information Security
I've been looking for an excellent read that nicely articulates what its like to be a technical leader and how best to navigate. In the past I've read some great books including: team geek, the managers path and the making of a manager. Earlier this week, I got an Amazon notification that Gergely Orosz's new book titled The Software Engineer's Guidebook was out! I didn't hesitate!!
It arrived in the post yesterday and so far I'm half way through Part 1. Such a great read! Very much looking forward to reading the rest of the book.
Great leaders have made great errors and those moments provide some of the most powerful learning in a person’s career. Personally, I’ve made some huge, customer-impacting mistakes in my 25+ years of software engineering. What I love about Amazon is the blameless culture where learnings are focused on how to improve and prevent what are often human mistakes. I loved reading this article and it’s a great reminder for how to pick yourself up and continue on, making sure you don’t make the same mistake twice and that you build resilient systems that don’t allow for previous issues to repeat themselves. https://lnkd.in/g4yZvu2t
My friends outside Amazon always ask me about our document-writing culture and whether it's time-consuming. I tell them that writing a clear document actually saves time for everyone, and it's one of the greatest things about Amazonian’s culture!
From my perspective, If a team or individual can't articulate their thoughts clearly on a document, they're not ready for a meeting.
Before Amazon, I worked in companies where people spent hours and weeks crafting beautiful PowerPoint presentations and held endless meetings without resolutions. At Amazon, we make fast decisions because we start meetings with well-written and crisp document. This leads to productive conversations, clear resolutions, and actionable steps.
As Jeff Bezos mentioned in this video, at Amazon, we value clear and crisp documents and messy meetings, which help us align quickly and make big decisions fast!
And if you're wondering whether writing a document in Amazon style is easy, my answer is no for beginners. It's a challenge at first, especially for new Amazonians, because Amazon document writing requires a unique skill set that's hard to develop outside of Amazon. It doesn't matter if you were a creative writer in school or have a writing background; you need to learn and practice crafting documents that are crisp, clear, and embody Amazon's culture. But once you get the hang of it, you'll find joy in every minute spent writing these documents.
Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience, and each individual may have different experiences and perspectives.
https://lnkd.in/gFwU6gVN
I admired Amazon's document-centric culture even before I joined the company. Documenting solutions to problems ensures that all stakeholders have the necessary information, especially when meetings are spaced out.
At Amazon, detailed documents play a crucial role in decision-making, effectively aligning stakeholders. The "Doc Review" process fosters innovation and communication. This approach has led to groundbreaking products like Kindle and Alexa.
I've embraced this methodology, transforming complex issues into clear, actionable plans. Learn more about how this practice can enhance business strategies in this insightful article: https://lnkd.in/dDhC9VS9#BusinessStrategies
I want to mention how much I appreciate my senior engineers.
The ones who are present
The ones who are patient
The ones who are kind
The one at Amazon who was always present for every meeting I led.
The one at Microsoft who was patient for all 37 code change iterations.
The one at Google who was kind and shouts out my achievements over their own.
I was wrong to think senior engineers only write scalable code.
Because from every senior engineer I met
The impact they leave on people scales more than anything else.
#leadership#softwareengineer#alexcancode
🛑🛑🛑 Engineers need to stop solving problems! 🛑🛑🛑
Okay, even I laughed as I typed that. Of course engineers need to solve problems; That is there job!
However, solving problems with little to no context, a surface level understanding of "why" and a whisper of direction on design is a recipe for disaster.
💭 I believe that as engineers look to solve problems, it is paramount to view problems as products.
✍️ In my latest article I reflect on how problems are generally handed off to engineers for "fixing", how Amazon approaches product alignment and how we, as engineers, can learn from this approach as we tackle "problems".
Check it out here --> https://lnkd.in/eycGq7Vj
🚫 Disclaimer: The thoughts and content shared in this post and the accompanying article are solely mine and do not represent the views or opinions of my employer.
#productdesign#product#PRFAQ#agile#continuousimprovement#customerobsession#medium
From the moment we enter this world, we're guided by voices telling us how to act, think, and be. These well-intentioned guides shape us, but they don't always lead us down the path that's best for us. Our early programming sets the stage, but what if you could change the script?
It's a journey that requires courage—to acknowledge the need for change and embrace it, even when it's challenging. The truth is, you can't change others, but you have the power to transform yourself. This realization is the first step towards unlocking your true potential.
"Meet Your Boss" is not just a book; it's a mirror reflecting the changes we need to make within ourselves to lead a life of fulfillment and purpose. It's about recognizing those pre-programmed patterns and choosing a different path, one that leads to self-awareness, growth, and happiness.
Dive into the journey of self-transformation and discover how to rewrite your script for the better. Grab your copy on Amazon now (link in bio) and begin the first chapter of a new, empowered you. It's time to be the boss of your own life.
#SelfTransformation#PersonalGrowth#MeetYourBoss#ChangeYourLife#Empowerment#AmazonFind#728method
I'm presently immersed in "Software Engineering at Google" book.
A solid team and fantastic colleagues rest upon the pillars of Humility, Respect, and Trust.
In perusing these pages, I'm reminded of two exceptional individuals from my past work experiences: SeyedGhasem Fattahpour and Mojtaba Khaliji.
Just wanted to say thanks for the great memories they gave me.
For those eager to delve into the human side of software engineering, I highly recommend exploring this book.
#softwareengineering#leadership#leadershipdevelopment#Google
The 6-Pager — A Cheat Sheet for Writing Killer Product Requirements
Struggling to write clear, compelling product requirements?
Bad requirements lead to wasted dev time, unhappy customers, and failed products 😵😵. Good requirements are far from a simple task 🤧.
Amazon has created the 6-pager to explain your product in a succinct yet thorough narrative. Just 6 pages to cover goals, challenges, state of the business, and strategic priorities. It's an elegant system to tame complexity.
We at Visily have summarized the key sections in this guide. Use it as your own guide for creating effective memos that help define requirements.
🔥Ignite Growth Firepower People Development * Training *Coaching I Best Selling Author I 🔥 Keynote Speaker * TEDx * I'M Possible Events * Podcast I Presenter TNL- Children's Charity Co-Founder Time4sharing.org
Exciting news!
Congratulations to the amazing team at Fire Power Talent for their hard work in making our book a number #1 Best Selling New Release on Amazon.
Check out our Business Accelerator written by an A- Team of 12 Masters of Business Excellence.
Grab your copy today and see how it can impact your business mindset. #UnleashingFirepower#Newrelease#Amazon#FirepowerTalent#Newbook
Frontend Engineer at CareerVillage.org
8moWant a reading buddy? Waiting for my copy in the mail.