Robin Bate Boerop's blog about software development, DevOps, and leadership.

Mission Defines Success

The purpose of a software team is to complete a mission. If you are a software team leader, your success is defined by the accomplishment of that mission; you must own the result 100%.

Read More...

Motivating Psychological Safety

Why software team leaders should create psychologically safe work environments.

Read More...

Your Dev Team Needs A Mission

Teams exist to complete a mission. If you are a software team leader, you must ensure that the team's mission is well defined and clearly communicated. Without a clear mission, your team’s ability to make decisions is grossly impeded, as is your ability to set goals and measure progress.

Read More...

Tip: Repeat Yourself Often

A tip for software team leaders: to communicate clearly and to lead effectively, repeat yourself often.

Read More...

Toxic Developers Destroy Productivity

If you are the leader of a software team, then you have heard of the legendary 10x developer - the superstar worker. To improve your team's productivity, learn this: replacing an average worker with a superstar worker is not nearly as effective as removing a toxic worker. It’s not even close. Toxic workers destroy productivity.

Read More...

Tip: Stop Solving Your Team's Problems

If you lead a software team, and a team member has a problem, you may be tempted to solve it. Maybe you shouldn’t. This is an opportunity for more than a solved problem.

Read More...

Tip: They Don't Have to Like You

Are you a software leader worried that the team members don’t like you? You can stop worrying. They don’t have to like you. They just have to trust you.

Read More...

Tip: Coaching Means Giving Less Advice

A tip for software team leaders: coaching well means giving less advice.

Read More...

Tip: Negotiate Achievable Goals

Leaders must ensure that the software team's goals are achievable.

Read More...

Tip: Routinely Develop Your Influence

On a software team, leaders should make the development of social influence routine.

Read More...

Code Is Not An Asset

Explains that software source code is a liability, not an asset.

Read More...

Employees Are More Important Than Customers and Investors

Employee engagement is more important than your customers, and more important than your investors. This article explains why.

Read More...