Engineering Management Institute

Zachary White

4 Simple Steps to High-Performing Engineering Teams for Engineering Managers

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This is a guest post by Zachary White

Engineering TeamsHigh-performing engineering teams are not the smartest.

They are not the most experienced.

The best engineering teams are exactly that… TEAMS. It’s not about IQ, but EQ (emotional and social intelligence). It’s less about brain-power and more about heart-power.

Brains and experience surely help, but if you can’t get along and communicate well together then you’re stuck.

On top of that, engineering management is difficult because you are almost always a player-coach. You have a team to manage, AND you have a full-time job of your own on top of that. You’re in meetings with the people above you, and in meetings with the people below you.

Nobody said it was easy.

The truth is that leading a high performance team is simple. Not easy, but simple.

Let me share four steps you must work through with every engineer on your team, starting with yourself, to improve the EQ and performance of your organization. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it will make a huge impact.

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3 Engineering Career Success Tips from CEOs & VPs Who Started Where You Are

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This is a guest post by Zachary White

success

“How did you do it?” I love asking top leaders this question for one simple reason… Success leaves clues.

I’ve asked top engineering leaders, from the Fortune 500 to Silicon Valley startups, how they got their results on my podcast. I want to share a few of their recent answers with you.

NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list, and they are not ranked in order of importance. That’s because the most important tip for you is always unique to your situation! So work with your own coach and mentor on which of these you need to focus on first, and go find a dozen more solutions to your unique challenges.

1. Find Your Mentor — AND Your Mentees

Everybody talks about the importance of having a mentor. I personally believe in having a tribe of mentors.

But very few leaders talk about the importance of finding your mentees as well.

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3 Radical Responsibility Coaching Tips for Engineering Success

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This is a guest post by Zachary White

What is the most frustrating problem you are dealing with right now?

The one that keeps you up at night.

Got it?

Good.

Now be honest. How did this happen? What caused the situation? How did this problem end up in your lap? Why are you the one who has to solve this?

95% of engineering leaders answer these questions the same way.

  • “My boss is demanding an unrealistic timeline.”
  • “The culture at my company is toxic. It’s a leadership problem.”
  • “I have unreasonable demands from my supplier.”
  • “Insert your own example…”

As a Victim

Before you scoff and scroll to another post, let’s take a quick timeout.

The fact that you are reading this blog says something about you. Growth and development matter to you. Learning how to coach your engineering team and hold them accountable is important to you.

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TECC 257: How to Manage Burnout, Fear, and Uncertainty and Remain a Productive Engineer

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In this episode, we talk to Zachary White, a career coach known for helping engineers, about the importance of work-life balance. He also provides some great tips to manage burnout, fear and uncertainty and remain a productive engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

burnout

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About How to Manage Burnout, Fear, and Uncertainty:

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