LeadDev's PriorityZero S1E6 From self-taught developer to engineering manager with Incident's Alicia Collymore
Oct 7, 2024
Alicia Collymore, Senior Engineering Manager at Incident.io, shares her journey from self-taught developer to leadership. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from a tech lead to an engineering manager. Alicia emphasizes the importance of collaborative goal-setting, especially for engineers who are reluctant to engage. She also delves into the intricacies of managing a major Microsoft Teams integration project, highlighting user needs and effective project management strategies.
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Tech Lead As Unofficial Management Trial
- As tech lead at LaterPay Alicia was already doing many EM tasks like shaping processes and pipelines without direct reports.
- Her manager suggested she try engineering management and she accepted despite initial fear.
Keep Rituals Short And Career-Focused
- Make rituals like retros and stand-ups snappy and outcome-focused to enable fast delivery.
- Pair people management with clear career feedback and goals to support engineers' growth.
Hire For Grit And Product Thinking
- Hire engineers with 'grit' and product-mindedness who cut through complexity to deliver value quickly.
- Interview for product thinking, not just technical skill, because engineers should shape solutions.