Category: Leadership

Project Manager – Team Lead – Manager of Development

I have been asked a few times for resources and tips for a new Project Manager, Team Lead, Manager of Development type position.
My tips are a generalization as I can pull out more resources for certain situations.

Tips 
1. Have an open door
2. Don’t tell your team everything that you know. Be selective
3. Be positive in all your dealings
4. Lead by example. Do not ask your team to do anything you would not.
5. Speak clearly
6. If a developer says it will take a week, say two. If a developer says a month, say 6 weeks. Always buffer time.
7. Be real with expectations
8. Be kind, not too strict, but strict enough
9. Careful planning of project details
10. Listen to those above you and below you. You will learn stuff from everyone.
11. You are not the end all be all.
12. Fight for those who deserve it, help those who need it
13. Stay Organized
14. Meet with your team weekly with an agenda, so everyone can be prepared
15. Know what your superiors want from you
16. Know your place
17. Make sure you keep developing
18. Code reviews are a must, even yours ( can be fun for the team )
19. Earn your trust, trust your team
20. Know each team member’s strengths and use them. You cannot be everything to everyone
21. Failure is always an option – learn from each failure and success
22. Reflect on everyone project as there is always something to learn
23. Find a mentor or mentors – they can be good sounding boards

Online Resources 
http://www.fenman.co.uk/activities/training-manual/team-leaders-development.html
http://andrewtokeley.net/archive/2008/05/02/how-to-become-a-development-team-leader.aspx
http://www.atlassian.com/agile/people/teamlead.jsp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_programmer 

Books to Read 
Project Management in a Week By Mark Brown
Survival is Not Enough By Seth Godin
Made in Canada Leadership By Amal; Morissette, Francoise Henein

My Blogs 
http://unlatched.com/blog_What_is_Leadership.aspx
http://unlatched.com/blog_Effective_Listening.aspx
http://unlatched.com/blog_How_a_Senior_can_Help_a_Junior_Developer.aspx
http://unlatched.com/blog_Can_Senior_Developers_Learn_From_Junior_Developers.aspx

Remember: Have fun or you will not like it. Take time off – you need breaks.

What is Leadership

A leader is a person who helps drive a group of people to a set goal.   A leader can drive the group of people to disaster or success.  It is in the qualities and attitudes that success or disaster can occur.   A person who operates in the capacity of leadership is not doing it for the money or larger office; although those are often part of the reward.


What is leadership?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership


Qualities & Attitudes

  • Functions as servant to the group to which they are leading; not for oneself.
  • Positive attitude, even in adversity
  • Has a sense of humor
  • Can lead without being a dictator and without being buddy buddy
  • Humble in their abilities, but knows and has faith their abilities
  • Knows how to set direction and knows when to change the direction of the sails
  • Confident with themselves and their leadership
  • Is decisive when making decisions
  • Ability to listen to others
  • Strong communication skills
  • Willingness to learn and delegate according to the tasks at hand.
  • Must be able to influence their team
  • Must be able to challenge current processes

Leadership is slowly being lost in companies around the world.  As the current generation of leaders leave their positions, companies are scrambling to fill the positions.  It is very important that current leaders mentor and guide their successors prior to retiring or leaving the company.  Successor-ship is task a leader must take on in order to keep the team successful.

Canada seems to have world-class leaders that are sought worldwide.  It is important that we keep the cycle of leadership going; especially in Canada.   Are you the next leader?   We have a great source of entrepreneurship in our youth; are they our next leader?  Are you ready to lead and help create new leaders?

New Project or Team Manager – First Two Weeks

There are plenty of tasks a person could do in their first two weeks as a new Project or Team Manager.  I have isolated some of the more important tasks that need to be addressed in the first two weeks of starting the new position.  Mind you these can vary depending on the size of team and the discussions with your new superior.

  1. Discuss your role and management styles with new superior.  Ensure you are both on the same page.
  2. Become intimate with company policies
  3. Get to know everyone on the team including their name, responsibilities
    and what they have done in the past
  4. Review all project descriptions and time lines
  5. Find out what each team member is currently working on and where they are in the time lines
  6. Compare where each team member is at on the time lines with the actual time line
  7. Discuss progress with My Boss
  8. Team Meeting
    • discuss priorities
    • discuss what everyone’s expectation is.
    • discuss what I expect of them
    •  ideas to get the projects back on track
    • look for team suggestions
  9. Discuss progress with my superior
  10. Meet with each member
    •  – discuss where they are in the project
    •  – together figure out how to advance in a more efficient way
    •  – set some realistic goals
  11. Discuss progress with my superior

The Art of Task Delegation

Delegation is a tough skill to master.  Many mangers have trouble delegating tasks to employees because they have trouble giving up control.   A good manager knows their strengths and the amount of work load they can handle without stressing.   A good manager also knows their employees strengths.  Use those strengths to your advantage.  Through the art of delegation, you can harness the skills you don’t have and reduce your stress by reducing your work load.  Delegation of tasks does not mean you are no longer responsible for the task, it only means that you are now managing.  You are still responsible for quality of the work done by the person you delegated the task to.  You still deserve credit for getting the work done, the only difference is you should be sharing the credit with the people who helped you.

Tips for Delegating Work

  • Know everyone’s strengths
  • Follow up with everyone who you delegated work to.   Ensure they are on task and the quality it to your desire.
  • Delegate tasks only to the people you trust.
  • Use a calendar.   Make sure you are following a schedule and that everyone knows the schedule.
  • Make sure everyone has the resources to get the job done. 
  • Provide your knowledge and share your experience.
  • Manage, manage, manage – this doesn’t mean you do the work. 
  • Share the glory, if you get praise, share the praise with those who helped.