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The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change
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Managing people is difficult wherever you work, but the tech industry as a whole is pretty bad at it. Tech companies in general lack the experience, tools, texts, and frameworks to do it well. And the handful of books that share tips and tricks of engineering management don t explain how to supervise employees in the face of growth and change.
In this book, author Camille F ...more
In this book, author Camille F ...more
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This book does a good job of walking you through the typical career path of a software engineer, from individual contributor all the way up to senior executive. It's a great read for all programmers and not just managers. In fact, if you're still early in your career, you'll find this book especially valuable, as it's a great outline of what to expect later in your career, and some of the things you can do to accelerate your growth.
A few of my favorite insights from the book:
* As you move from ...more
A few of my favorite insights from the book:
* As you move from ...more
A great book on navigating a career path from Individual Contributor to Manager. Doesn't go into depth on any topic, but provides a good overview. I'm adding it to the list of recommendations for new tech leads. The full list:
- The Pragmatic Programmer
- The Effective Engineer
- Peopleware
- The Manager's Path
- High Output Management
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
- The Elements of Style
- Crucial Conversations ...more
- The Pragmatic Programmer
- The Effective Engineer
- Peopleware
- The Manager's Path
- High Output Management
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
- The Elements of Style
- Crucial Conversations ...more
Apr 11, 2017
Rod Begbie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfiction,
management
Having grown from being an engineer to manager to startup founder, this is probably the best book I’ve read on the topic of technical leadership and management, and one I wish I’d had available to me a decade ago! All those hard lessons I got from screwing up and learning from my mistakes could have been skipped if Camille’s book had existed then!
Though that dreaded word “manager” is in the title, it is not purely valuable to those who have a strong desire to engage in people management. Part of ...more
Though that dreaded word “manager” is in the title, it is not purely valuable to those who have a strong desire to engage in people management. Part of ...more
I'm somewhere between individual contributor and management in my career right now (mentoring and, at times, technical lead,) so this book was of interest to me.
I hate to say that this book was disappointing because I enjoy following the author on Twitter and have enjoyed lots of her clear, well-written blog posts about management and technical strategy, particularly ones like "how do individual contributors get stuck".
I think this book essentially tried to stretch those blog posts into an en ...more
I hate to say that this book was disappointing because I enjoy following the author on Twitter and have enjoyed lots of her clear, well-written blog posts about management and technical strategy, particularly ones like "how do individual contributors get stuck".
I think this book essentially tried to stretch those blog posts into an en ...more
The best book about management in software development I have ever read! A must read for managers and highly recommended even for individual contributors. It has helped me enormously!
I recommend this book to anyone involved with software engineering management, from individual contributors - willing or not to a managing career move - to senior managers.
It gives a clear view and show countless real life situtations, from first level to CTO, with a perspective of who had experiencied all of it.
Whether or not you are looking for a management career, we as software engineers are going to live most (if not all) of the situtations described in each chapter, directly or indirectly. ...more
It gives a clear view and show countless real life situtations, from first level to CTO, with a perspective of who had experiencied all of it.
Whether or not you are looking for a management career, we as software engineers are going to live most (if not all) of the situtations described in each chapter, directly or indirectly. ...more
Don't get discouraged by introductory tech lead chapters - these seem like written a bit "without inspiration". In fact, there are at least few better books for people who just start leading tech teams - e.g. Pat Kua's "Talking with tech leads". But Fournier's book gets significantly better once it reaches relatively less explored areas - managing technical managers, managing several teams, differentiating among various higher level technical management roles, becoming CTO.
Recommended read if yo ...more
Recommended read if yo ...more
I still don’t get what a CTO does
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.
This book didn't bring ground breaking / earth shattering new information to the table. But it highlighted all those little nuggets of areas you would have to deal with in various stages of your career. I kept on thinking "Exactly, I've dealt with that". She hits the nail on the head most of the time.
Other times she highlights important areas that you've forgotten/neglected and clearly states why it is important.
Reading some revie ...more
This book didn't bring ground breaking / earth shattering new information to the table. But it highlighted all those little nuggets of areas you would have to deal with in various stages of your career. I kept on thinking "Exactly, I've dealt with that". She hits the nail on the head most of the time.
Other times she highlights important areas that you've forgotten/neglected and clearly states why it is important.
Reading some revie ...more
Extremely well written book that takes you through the career progression of a software engineer to managing a small team to VP Engineering and CTO. It talks about the roles and responsibilities of each stage of the technical as well as the techno-managerial career.
The book illustrates the various situations that you will face when you navigate your career through a product startup. Several situations and their solutions resonated with me as I have faced them myself. This is a book written by so ...more
The book illustrates the various situations that you will face when you navigate your career through a product startup. Several situations and their solutions resonated with me as I have faced them myself. This is a book written by so ...more
Was it easy to read: Sort of. The language is not complicated at all. But each chapter is intended for a person in a certain position. So chapters that are still very far away in my career were quite difficult to get through. I think it is best to be read as author suggested – just the chapters that are currently of value for you.
What I liked about it: How practical and hands on the book is. It really gives context about culture and situations in other companies + explanations and advice how to ...more
What I liked about it: How practical and hands on the book is. It really gives context about culture and situations in other companies + explanations and advice how to ...more
When I started working in the tech industry nearly 10 years ago, I had the philosophy that "engineers don't need to be managed". Several orgs and teams later, I can really appreciate the value of a great mentor/manager. This book goes through several topics like roles, culture, career ladder, management etc of engineering teams. I'm sure lots of it were just general good advice for any sort of management. The book also doesn't shy away from pointing out the pitfalls if you following the advice b
...more
Well structured, explaining the different levels of being a (tech) manager.
Downside: some repetitions. Not really new stuff, but a good read.
Downside: some repetitions. Not really new stuff, but a good read.
Good book on the software engineering relevant parts of leadership. The author is well-read in management and leadership and seeks to supplement the existing works with a book more focused on the parts unique to software engineering. I think she does a good job pointing out the differences and similarities, but I wasn't blown away. I wish there wouldn't been more focus on managing projects, communicating with stakeholders, and prioritizing at the project-level. If you manage people and you're in
...more
This was my first "career" book and it was better than I expected. This is great even for non-managers if you happen to land a copy of this because of the chapters devoted to being a great IC and Tech Lead. It has concise advice supplemented by stories about different stages of an engineer's career for those on the manager track all the way up to the top.
Sidenote: I didn't finish as I stopped where it was relevant to my career, but still am considering this finished (for now). ...more
Sidenote: I didn't finish as I stopped where it was relevant to my career, but still am considering this finished (for now). ...more
this is a really incredible book. it's one of the first ones I picked up as I was transitioning from a tech lead to an engineering manager and it was helpful not only for navigating my own role but for understanding the needs and communication patterns of everyone I work with from new engineers to directors and above.
this is not only a book for managers imo, it's a book for anyone who wants to better understand how to work with folks at all levels of an engineering organization ...more
this is not only a book for managers imo, it's a book for anyone who wants to better understand how to work with folks at all levels of an engineering organization ...more
I've tried to like this book, but couldn't. It took me more than a year to read it to the end.
It's a comprehensive walk-through typical tech carrier ladder, but up to chapter about "managing managers" it just lacks any insights and reads like common sense. Might be a good read for those who are in early stages of their career.
It gets little bit more interesting during the last 3 chapters ("managing managers", "big league" and the one about building culture).
But I believe I got significant more ...more
It's a comprehensive walk-through typical tech carrier ladder, but up to chapter about "managing managers" it just lacks any insights and reads like common sense. Might be a good read for those who are in early stages of their career.
It gets little bit more interesting during the last 3 chapters ("managing managers", "big league" and the one about building culture).
But I believe I got significant more ...more
I don't have much to say about this book as it's mostly a compilation of ideas I've either heard or used during my career.
This book can be definitely replaced with a few blog posts. The examples that it gives are rather nonillustrative, I've never heard about most of the companies that the author uses as role models.
Regardless of what I just said the book was nice and easy to read and I really appreciate author's efforts to write it.
I can recommend it as a book you can start and finish during on ...more
This book can be definitely replaced with a few blog posts. The examples that it gives are rather nonillustrative, I've never heard about most of the companies that the author uses as role models.
Regardless of what I just said the book was nice and easy to read and I really appreciate author's efforts to write it.
I can recommend it as a book you can start and finish during on ...more
How can you tell if you really enjoyed a book after finishing it?
I guess ordering a physical copy when you already had the ebook is a sign.
It took me quite a while to finish this book, as I would stop every time that I didn't relate with the role described. Then, I would pick it up when I felt that I had matured in my role and I could better understand the concepts.
I believe it's a very insightful book, and that everyone can gain by reading it. Even if you don't want to be a manager, it can te ...more
I guess ordering a physical copy when you already had the ebook is a sign.
It took me quite a while to finish this book, as I would stop every time that I didn't relate with the role described. Then, I would pick it up when I felt that I had matured in my role and I could better understand the concepts.
I believe it's a very insightful book, and that everyone can gain by reading it. Even if you don't want to be a manager, it can te ...more
Contains a very good description about the different roles and responsibilities on the typical engineering career later (from engineer to CTO). The best I've read so far actually. Also useful (albeit brief) advice and tips for getting started in each particular role.
Sometimes felt a bit to deep in US/Silicon Valley culture and their understanding of leadership to me.
...more
Sometimes felt a bit to deep in US/Silicon Valley culture and their understanding of leadership to me.
...more
Feb 08, 2020
Martijn
added it
This is the sort of book I wished I had read several years ago, before I started managing people and teams. It has many practical suggestions and its technical focus makes it very relatable.
I did miss a focus on diversity though. Though the author is careful to switch pronouns, there was barely any mention of the importance and challenges of managing cultural diverse teams and I worry a few of her comments on company culture could be misconstrued as saying these aren't a good idea. ...more
I did miss a focus on diversity though. Though the author is careful to switch pronouns, there was barely any mention of the importance and challenges of managing cultural diverse teams and I worry a few of her comments on company culture could be misconstrued as saying these aren't a good idea. ...more
Not particularly mind blowing but it contains a few nuggets of information on how to navigate this career path, making it a must read for Individual Contributors going the Management route.
I particularly enjoyed the Team Lead definitions and role responsibilities as well as how nicely the author manages to clearly differentiate each role from the previous one.
I particularly enjoyed the Team Lead definitions and role responsibilities as well as how nicely the author manages to clearly differentiate each role from the previous one.
It was good, especially the first part of the book. If I hadn’t worked at Facebook, I’d probably have rated it four or five stars, but so much of this I’ve already learned. And what I was hoping to get out of the book, which was the sections about senior management, she didn’t really cover the layers of positions in upper management at large companies (because she’s writing about smaller companies and she doesn’t have the experience). It went from managing managers straight to CTO. Also, some pa
...more
Where was this book in 2005 :) great practical content, actual for every level in technical management career. My friend recommended me this book when I started to raise the questions about scope of CTO and head of engineering responsibility. I found some answers indeed
The book allowed me as junior engineering lead to understand paths of grows and what challanges are ahead. Also it has valuable advices on how to react and act during difficult situations.
The book every engineering manager must read.
This is the book every tech person should read. It shows all the expectations from the ordinary tech lead to the high level CTO. Even if you don't aspire to follow the management track, it shows valuable information regarding mentoring, 1:1, engineering process, and all sorts of things a high level individual contributor eventually will need to embrace
...more
Very insightful, with lots of actionable advice
Camille's book on tech management is spot on, starts pointing out the basics of management, how tech management differs from management in other fields and the many levels you can find yourself (tech lead, manager, engineering manager, VP and CTO) and stuff you should worry about at all these levels.
She covers day to day work, stuff you will most likely face, problems along the road, ways to perform self evaluation, collect feedback, find blind spots (yeah, you'll figure out people don't tell yo ...more
She covers day to day work, stuff you will most likely face, problems along the road, ways to perform self evaluation, collect feedback, find blind spots (yeah, you'll figure out people don't tell yo ...more
Mar 26, 2017
Julie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
professional,
kindle
This book was really useful to me as someone more interested in the technical leadership track than the people management track. The early chapters covered content useful to the track I'm interested in. The later chapters helped improve my understanding of how various levels of leadership work at tech companies and the various benefits/struggles/tradeoffs/etc., which are useful for better understanding and empathizing with both my immediate manager and people farther up the reporting chain.
I re ...more
I re ...more
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For the 19thC gynaecologist, see Camille Fournier.
Camille Fournier is the former chief technology officer of Rent The Runway and former vice president of technology at Goldman Sachs.
...more
Camille Fournier is the former chief technology officer of Rent The Runway and former vice president of technology at Goldman Sachs.
...more
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“As you go through various stages of your career, you’ll start to realize how much uncertainty there is in the world. It’s a pretty universal truth that once you get the job you thought you wanted, the enjoyment eventually fades and you find yourself looking for something else. You think you want to work for that cool startup, and you get there only to find it’s a mess. You think you want to be a manager, only to discover that the job is hard and not rewarding in the ways you expected. In all of this uncertainty, the only person you can rely on to pull through it is yourself.”
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“For example, if overwork is due to (in)stability of the production systems, it’s your job as the manager to slow down the product roadmap in order to focus on stability for a while. Make clear measures of alerts, downtime, and incidents, and strive to reduce them. My advice is to dedicate 20% of your time in every planning session to system sustainability work (“sustainability” instead of the more common “technical debt”).”
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