Managing Humans

Managing Humans
Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
Michael Lopp
Apress

 

This was a Joel reading recommendation that panned out very well.  There were many reflections of my career that I found between the pages.  More than once I found myself either laughing out loud or cringing at memories the author brought back.

Managing Humans is a great read, not only for those who might be in a management position, and want to know how to handle the "Monday Freakout", but also for those in the individual contributor position and want to understand why "Managers are not Evil" and why you don't want to wind up like "Fez".

I do believe the author is too critical on himself throughout the book when he is unable to find that one thing that makes a "Fez" tick and get them motivated in growing with the business instead of being inevitably left behind.  Or, maybe that's just the sign of a great manager.

Either way, you'll probably pick it up and burn through it pretty fast.  However, stop to re-read chapter 16: "Malcom Events".  They happen everywhere, whether you actually realize it or not, but now you have a name for it and the author offers some sound advice on avoiding them.  A co-worker has the uncanny ability to successfully identify "Malcom Events" (not named as such) at our office.  He doesn't call them that, but has accurately predicted several over the course of the years of us working together (sometimes months in advance).  Some people are just more sensitive to disturbances in the Force than others, I guess.  I'll keep up my training...