Yusuf Aytas's Blog, page 3

Learning the Johari Window

When I wrote this piece on setting goals, I focused on the practical side: clarity, motivation, breaking down complexity. But here’s the thing. Even the clearest goal doesn’t mean much if you don’t understand who you are. It’s beyond MBTI kind of stuff. I’m referring to a closer look at yourself. That’s where the Johari Window comes in. It’s a model from the 1950s that still slaps today.

Source

Management is a Lonely Place

Yes, it is. If you’re in it, you already know. It sucks. You can’t talk to your boss about many things because, let’s be honest, they probably don’t have that much time to hear it. And they can’t really talk to you either, because they have their own version of this loneliness. You also can’t share everything with your direct reports because some things aren’t meant to be passed down.

Source

Simple Task Management

I don’t have the best memory. Hell, I barely remember what I did yesterday. Over the years, I’ve tried countless apps to track my tasks, but most of them are too complex. Sign-ins, corporate policies, integrations, fancy UIs. I don’t have time for that crap. I believe in KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). It was one of the first principles I learned, probably in my Computer Architecture or Computer…

Source

AI Balance in Work

I use AI, you use AI, and almost everyone uses AI. I don’t think that’s going to change. But how should we use it? I’ve seen people turn five bullet points into three pages — I got completely lost. We should use AI where it makes sense; otherwise, it’s just overwhelming. I think others have had similar experiences. I’ll edit this post with AI. You can see the raw content versus how it’s presented…

Source

PIP Manager Insights

I remember one of my directs stepping into a new manager role, only to inherit a team with one or two employees who just weren’t cutting it. From day one, it was a challenge. He hesitated. He first tried to avoid HR, sidestep PIPs, and hoped things would somehow work themselves out. And honestly? I get it. When you’re managing people, it’s impossible not to think about their families, their lives…

Source

Engineering Manager Interview Preparation

Layoffs seem to be everywhere these days. You scroll through feeds, and it’s another round of cuts, another company restructuring. If you’re a seasoned manager, losing your role can feel like hitting a wall. And finding new jobs is a really uphill battle, especially with all the talk about flattening organizations and cutting down on management layers.I still believe it’s impossible to have many…

Source

Work-Life Balance as a Manager

As an IC, you close your laptop at 6 PM, log off, and forget about the work unless you are oncall. As a manager, you check Slack at 10 PM because someone might need you. Your calendar looks like there’s no time to do anything and you haven’t had an actual deep focus hour in weeks. Sounds familiar? Welcome to management, where your time is no longer yours. Or is it? Work-life balance (WLB) in…

Source

Bridging the Management Disconnect

I’ve seen this happen over and over. A successful engineer steps into management. They are eager to build great teams and support their people. They know some of the leaders before didn’t do that. They embrace servant leadership, convinced it’s the key to success. But then reality kicks in. The higher you go, the more you realize leadership goes beyond serving your team. It becomes more and more…

Source

Tech Hiring Bubble Bursts

I wasn’t around in the 90s, but people who were say it was incredible. If you could code, you were set. Talent was rare. There were opportunities almost everywhere. In the 2000s and early 2010s, that momentum kept going. Engineers climbed fast, management and then director roles in their 30s, big paychecks, life was good. Then came the pandemic, and companies couldn’t hire fast enough.

Source

Traits for EMs

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many managers, and mentored a few. I was fortunate enough to learn from some great bosses. When I think about it, I feel like there’s no one right way to be a good manager. I realize every manager brings their own personality, strengths, and struggles to the role. The best ones don’t try to be perfect. In the end, there are different leadership…

Source