Blog¶
The First 90 Days: How to Nail Your Transition into a New Role
Michael D. Watkins’ The First 90 Days is a playbook for successfully stepping into a new leadership role. The premise is simple: transitions are high-stakes, and the actions you take in the first three months set the foundation for long-term success.
Adrenaline Junkies and Template Zombies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Software Development Culture
Adrenaline Junkies and Template Zombies by Tom DeMarco, Peter Hruschka, Tim Lister, Suzanne Robertson, and James Robertson isn’t your typical software engineering book. Instead of giving a structured framework, it’s a collection of patterns—both good and bad—found in software projects and teams.
Team Geek: How to Build a High-Performing Engineering Team
Team Geek, by Ben Collins-Sussman, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Trevor Brown, is one of the best books on team dynamics in software engineering. Unlike traditional management books, it doesn’t just focus on processes—it’s about how engineers can work together effectively, avoid dysfunction, and build great software as a team.
Start with Why, Leaders Eat Last, and The Infinite Game: A Practical Perspective
Simon Sinek’s three major books—Start with Why, Leaders Eat Last, and The Infinite Game—are often treated as separate ideas. But really, they form a logical progression:
Dan Pink’s Drive: Why Motivation is About More Than Just Money
Dan Pink’s Drive dismantles the outdated idea that people are best motivated by rewards (carrots) and punishments (sticks). Instead, he presents a simple but powerful framework for what truly drives human motivation:
Peopleware: Why Tech Success is More About People Than Code
Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister’s Peopleware is one of those books that should be required reading for anyone in tech leadership. The core argument? The biggest challenges in software development and engineering aren’t technical—they’re human.
The Practical Wisdom of Leaders Eat Last
Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last explores a simple yet often overlooked truth: good leadership isn’t about power or authority. It’s about creating an environment where people can thrive. The book leans heavily on biological and psychological explanations for teamwork and trust. Yet its core message is just common sense: people perform better when they feel valued, safe, and supported.
Waltzing with Bears: Embracing Risk Instead of Ignoring It
Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister’s Waltzing with Bears tackles an uncomfortable truth in project management: most projects fail because leaders pretend risk doesn’t exist. Instead of planning for uncertainty, teams act as if everything will go according to plan—only to be blindsided when reality hits.