Kim
@3wc.io
Techie. Developer since before it was cool. Lover of startups. Coach/mentor to engineering leaders at small companies and the seniors who are debating their path. http://3wc.io
I’ve grown to dislike the Peter Principle (people are promoted to their level of incompetence).
The smug enjoy their mic drop when they bring it up. The insecure are terrified they’ve hit their limit.
At no point do we pause to consider you have “Peter principled” dozens of times in your life. ⬇️
The smug enjoy their mic drop when they bring it up. The insecure are terrified they’ve hit their limit.
At no point do we pause to consider you have “Peter principled” dozens of times in your life. ⬇️
February 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I’ve grown to dislike the Peter Principle (people are promoted to their level of incompetence).
The smug enjoy their mic drop when they bring it up. The insecure are terrified they’ve hit their limit.
At no point do we pause to consider you have “Peter principled” dozens of times in your life. ⬇️
The smug enjoy their mic drop when they bring it up. The insecure are terrified they’ve hit their limit.
At no point do we pause to consider you have “Peter principled” dozens of times in your life. ⬇️
Avoid "rewarding" high performers by overloading them with work from lower performers. I know it's tempting, you need the work done. But it leads to burnout, discouragement, & turnover. No need to coddle, just aim for balance.
When you're tempted to reassign work, do 2 things
⬇️
When you're tempted to reassign work, do 2 things
⬇️
February 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Avoid "rewarding" high performers by overloading them with work from lower performers. I know it's tempting, you need the work done. But it leads to burnout, discouragement, & turnover. No need to coddle, just aim for balance.
When you're tempted to reassign work, do 2 things
⬇️
When you're tempted to reassign work, do 2 things
⬇️
New to a role? Don’t let people make you feel bad for “copying” mentors. That's how humans learned since the dawn of time. AND
- Don’t expect mentor strategies to always work; ~50% fail rate
- Don’t panic-rush thru strategies. Give time to LEARN
- Let emulation fade as identity/instinct builds up
- Don’t expect mentor strategies to always work; ~50% fail rate
- Don’t panic-rush thru strategies. Give time to LEARN
- Let emulation fade as identity/instinct builds up
February 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New to a role? Don’t let people make you feel bad for “copying” mentors. That's how humans learned since the dawn of time. AND
- Don’t expect mentor strategies to always work; ~50% fail rate
- Don’t panic-rush thru strategies. Give time to LEARN
- Let emulation fade as identity/instinct builds up
- Don’t expect mentor strategies to always work; ~50% fail rate
- Don’t panic-rush thru strategies. Give time to LEARN
- Let emulation fade as identity/instinct builds up
Trying to decide if my love for chrome tab groups is based on it being truly helpful OR it just enables my open-tab addiction to continue while looking less embarrassing. 🤔
January 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Trying to decide if my love for chrome tab groups is based on it being truly helpful OR it just enables my open-tab addiction to continue while looking less embarrassing. 🤔
There’s a gap between a leader's idea of team health and the team’s opinion (2020 research). If things are bad, you want to know - but why won’t they tell you? Many reasons aren't within your control, but here's 10 that are:
1. You don’t ask
2. You don’t listen
3. You can’t/won't fix issues
⬇️
1. You don’t ask
2. You don’t listen
3. You can’t/won't fix issues
⬇️
January 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
There’s a gap between a leader's idea of team health and the team’s opinion (2020 research). If things are bad, you want to know - but why won’t they tell you? Many reasons aren't within your control, but here's 10 that are:
1. You don’t ask
2. You don’t listen
3. You can’t/won't fix issues
⬇️
1. You don’t ask
2. You don’t listen
3. You can’t/won't fix issues
⬇️
I had other things to say today but considering how glib some of these people are about the impact of AI to entry/mid level workers, I just find this to be a delicious little moment.
Every big tech earnings call is going to be CFOs having to answer why they’re spending BILLIONS on AI when DeepSeek can match the best models from OpenAI for $6M.
It’s going to be chaotic.
It’s going to be chaotic.
January 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I had other things to say today but considering how glib some of these people are about the impact of AI to entry/mid level workers, I just find this to be a delicious little moment.
Took the preteen to her first "mall date" with friends. New parenting-level unlocked! 🏅 Also, my smile muscles are hurting. They are too cute.
January 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Took the preteen to her first "mall date" with friends. New parenting-level unlocked! 🏅 Also, my smile muscles are hurting. They are too cute.
Reposted by Kim
January 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Caught a podcast where JM Nickels (head/director of product at waymo/uber/etc) talked about brilliant engineers at Waymo not realizing everything involved in building a ride sharing app (like uber had).
My thoughts: even great engineers regularly underestimate the work of other domains. ⬇️
My thoughts: even great engineers regularly underestimate the work of other domains. ⬇️
January 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Caught a podcast where JM Nickels (head/director of product at waymo/uber/etc) talked about brilliant engineers at Waymo not realizing everything involved in building a ride sharing app (like uber had).
My thoughts: even great engineers regularly underestimate the work of other domains. ⬇️
My thoughts: even great engineers regularly underestimate the work of other domains. ⬇️
You can’t coach someone who doesn’t want to be coached.
It may be in your "engineering manager" job desc, but some won't be interested. Trust isn't there yet, they don’t mesh with your style, or they've been so burned they don’t want coaching from ANYONE they work for. Understandable. ⬇️
It may be in your "engineering manager" job desc, but some won't be interested. Trust isn't there yet, they don’t mesh with your style, or they've been so burned they don’t want coaching from ANYONE they work for. Understandable. ⬇️
January 21, 2025 at 8:06 PM
You can’t coach someone who doesn’t want to be coached.
It may be in your "engineering manager" job desc, but some won't be interested. Trust isn't there yet, they don’t mesh with your style, or they've been so burned they don’t want coaching from ANYONE they work for. Understandable. ⬇️
It may be in your "engineering manager" job desc, but some won't be interested. Trust isn't there yet, they don’t mesh with your style, or they've been so burned they don’t want coaching from ANYONE they work for. Understandable. ⬇️
It’s been a tough weekend, but I return here because I believe in this work.
We spend 8 hours sleeping and 8 hours working. If a third of your life goes to work, it’s worth strategy & support. Otherwise you’ll spend your last third recovering or self-medicating from it.
We spend 8 hours sleeping and 8 hours working. If a third of your life goes to work, it’s worth strategy & support. Otherwise you’ll spend your last third recovering or self-medicating from it.
January 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
It’s been a tough weekend, but I return here because I believe in this work.
We spend 8 hours sleeping and 8 hours working. If a third of your life goes to work, it’s worth strategy & support. Otherwise you’ll spend your last third recovering or self-medicating from it.
We spend 8 hours sleeping and 8 hours working. If a third of your life goes to work, it’s worth strategy & support. Otherwise you’ll spend your last third recovering or self-medicating from it.
I was appreciated for nailing my colors to the wall and getting things moving. AND… I held back the team by not realizing in engineering management the game changed.
Don’t blindly carry this habit from IC days. Keep it for peer leaders, bosses, that senior who is happy to tell you you’re an idiot ⬇️
Don’t blindly carry this habit from IC days. Keep it for peer leaders, bosses, that senior who is happy to tell you you’re an idiot ⬇️
January 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I was appreciated for nailing my colors to the wall and getting things moving. AND… I held back the team by not realizing in engineering management the game changed.
Don’t blindly carry this habit from IC days. Keep it for peer leaders, bosses, that senior who is happy to tell you you’re an idiot ⬇️
Don’t blindly carry this habit from IC days. Keep it for peer leaders, bosses, that senior who is happy to tell you you’re an idiot ⬇️
My health-and-fitness-poster-child husband mocked me for wanting junkfood takeout AGAIN tonight, and lo! Who just messaged me that he might be interested? My response:
a woman in a purple dress says " well well well "
ALT: a woman in a purple dress says " well well well "
media.tenor.com
January 16, 2025 at 10:39 PM
My health-and-fitness-poster-child husband mocked me for wanting junkfood takeout AGAIN tonight, and lo! Who just messaged me that he might be interested? My response:
Quality is not a constant. It changes across biz stages. In the early days the goal is get to traction before the money runs out. That’s it. That’s all. Trying to win a techtwitter award for your system in this phase will only create madness for you and cripple the company.
January 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Quality is not a constant. It changes across biz stages. In the early days the goal is get to traction before the money runs out. That’s it. That’s all. Trying to win a techtwitter award for your system in this phase will only create madness for you and cripple the company.
If small co engineering manager job listings were true they’d say:
Looking for a full time EM but in reality we envision
50% project mgmt
20% product mgmt
30% customer support
50% tech lead
20% coding (but 50% is better!)
15% director/vp of eng
40% hr
10% motivational speaker & positivity coach
Looking for a full time EM but in reality we envision
50% project mgmt
20% product mgmt
30% customer support
50% tech lead
20% coding (but 50% is better!)
15% director/vp of eng
40% hr
10% motivational speaker & positivity coach
January 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
If small co engineering manager job listings were true they’d say:
Looking for a full time EM but in reality we envision
50% project mgmt
20% product mgmt
30% customer support
50% tech lead
20% coding (but 50% is better!)
15% director/vp of eng
40% hr
10% motivational speaker & positivity coach
Looking for a full time EM but in reality we envision
50% project mgmt
20% product mgmt
30% customer support
50% tech lead
20% coding (but 50% is better!)
15% director/vp of eng
40% hr
10% motivational speaker & positivity coach
Going through old Developing Leadership episodes, & there’s one on velocity. It surprised me a bit - both shared how the 1st slow-downs they see happen during PR review delays and CI build times. We've all seen delays there - but is that where you see them FIRST? It's def not my experience.
⬇️
⬇️
January 15, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Going through old Developing Leadership episodes, & there’s one on velocity. It surprised me a bit - both shared how the 1st slow-downs they see happen during PR review delays and CI build times. We've all seen delays there - but is that where you see them FIRST? It's def not my experience.
⬇️
⬇️
Talked to an EM about his start. “right place/time & I saw no other path so… mgmt.”
He’s not alone. Many aren’t looking for 🌈. they want to do decent work, support their people and not drown.
You don’t have to love mgmt to make skill building & support worthwhile. Wanting sanity is reason enough.
He’s not alone. Many aren’t looking for 🌈. they want to do decent work, support their people and not drown.
You don’t have to love mgmt to make skill building & support worthwhile. Wanting sanity is reason enough.
January 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Talked to an EM about his start. “right place/time & I saw no other path so… mgmt.”
He’s not alone. Many aren’t looking for 🌈. they want to do decent work, support their people and not drown.
You don’t have to love mgmt to make skill building & support worthwhile. Wanting sanity is reason enough.
He’s not alone. Many aren’t looking for 🌈. they want to do decent work, support their people and not drown.
You don’t have to love mgmt to make skill building & support worthwhile. Wanting sanity is reason enough.
bsky: No algorithm! We rely on reposts to boost visibility!
bsky users: reposts are annoying I filter them out of my feed and avoid accounts that do it often. So cringe.
bsky users: reposts are annoying I filter them out of my feed and avoid accounts that do it often. So cringe.
a man in a black shirt is making a funny face while holding a piece of meat in his hand .
ALT: a man in a black shirt is making a funny face while holding a piece of meat in his hand .
media.tenor.com
January 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
bsky: No algorithm! We rely on reposts to boost visibility!
bsky users: reposts are annoying I filter them out of my feed and avoid accounts that do it often. So cringe.
bsky users: reposts are annoying I filter them out of my feed and avoid accounts that do it often. So cringe.
“Some EM work will likely be done by AI like story point/time estimation.” - Eiso Kant
Techs who like story points say: it isn’t about date commitments, it’s about fostering conversation & debate.
Companies that bring in AI for this task: it was always about date estimation -> commitment. Always.
Techs who like story points say: it isn’t about date commitments, it’s about fostering conversation & debate.
Companies that bring in AI for this task: it was always about date estimation -> commitment. Always.
January 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
“Some EM work will likely be done by AI like story point/time estimation.” - Eiso Kant
Techs who like story points say: it isn’t about date commitments, it’s about fostering conversation & debate.
Companies that bring in AI for this task: it was always about date estimation -> commitment. Always.
Techs who like story points say: it isn’t about date commitments, it’s about fostering conversation & debate.
Companies that bring in AI for this task: it was always about date estimation -> commitment. Always.
I have this weird thing where I start craving tea and disliking coffee while heaving a head cold. I blamed that cold for 2 days of constant headaches before considering other causes.
Do not stop drinking the coffee, friends. Tea is not strong enough. Caffeine is our overlord. Bow to your master.
Do not stop drinking the coffee, friends. Tea is not strong enough. Caffeine is our overlord. Bow to your master.
January 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I have this weird thing where I start craving tea and disliking coffee while heaving a head cold. I blamed that cold for 2 days of constant headaches before considering other causes.
Do not stop drinking the coffee, friends. Tea is not strong enough. Caffeine is our overlord. Bow to your master.
Do not stop drinking the coffee, friends. Tea is not strong enough. Caffeine is our overlord. Bow to your master.
Current status following holiday breaks.
a woman in a red dress is holding a microphone in her hand and says `` you get sick and you get sick '' .
ALT: a woman in a red dress is holding a microphone in her hand and says `` you get sick and you get sick '' .
media.tenor.com
January 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Current status following holiday breaks.
Reposted by Kim
Friendly reminder that today is the LAST day to sign up for the January session of Management Fundamentals for the Modern Leader! We kick off tomorrow.
maven.com/kellyvaughn/...
maven.com/kellyvaughn/...
January 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Friendly reminder that today is the LAST day to sign up for the January session of Management Fundamentals for the Modern Leader! We kick off tomorrow.
maven.com/kellyvaughn/...
maven.com/kellyvaughn/...
Tried management & didn't love it? Normal. It's a big shift, first time is rough. We expect instant unicorns, but that's unrealistic. Even if IC is your path, mgmt/leadership exp improves you.
January 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Tried management & didn't love it? Normal. It's a big shift, first time is rough. We expect instant unicorns, but that's unrealistic. Even if IC is your path, mgmt/leadership exp improves you.
Heard someone say they quietly ended all the reports they were running for other depts & waited to see who reached out for what report. Result? They stopped 97% of their reports work bc *no one even noticed.* 🫠
January 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Heard someone say they quietly ended all the reports they were running for other depts & waited to see who reached out for what report. Result? They stopped 97% of their reports work bc *no one even noticed.* 🫠