Is shielding your team really good leadership? The hosts argue that it creates a disconnect from business realities, leading to poor results. They challenge the misconception that deceit is necessary for effective leadership, promoting integrity instead. Using a gardening metaphor, they emphasize exposing teams to their environment for better performance. Contrary to popular belief, engineers thrive on collaboration rather than isolation. Openness about workplace challenges fosters deeper connections and a sense of purpose among employees.
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insights INSIGHT
Leadership Means Facing Reality
Leadership is not about deception but about aligning people with reality.
Shielding teams from business realities disconnects them and leads to worse outcomes.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sports Teams Analogize Software Teams
Successful software teams resemble high-performing sports teams with discipline and shared joy.
Leaders nurture these teams by creating conditions for skill growth and collaboration.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Don't Shield Software Teams
Avoid permanently shielding your software teams from business realities.
Instead, foster environments where teams understand and react to real conditions to improve results.
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First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills. The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument. The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours. It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations[2][3][5].
Is shielding your team a sign of good leadership? On this episode, Jeffrey has been riled up by an episode of the podcast, Cortex, and wants to make a case against shielding, which he believes keeps teams disconnected from the reality of business conditions and leads to suboptimal results.
SHOW LINKS:
- Cortex podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cortex/id1001591696
- Dale Carnegie book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People
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You'll find free videos and practice material, plus our book Agile Conversations, at agileconversations.com
And we'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show: email us at info@agileconversations.com
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About Your Hosts
Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick joined forces at TIM Group in 2013, where they studied and practised the art of management through difficult conversations. Over a decade later, they remain united in their passion for growing profitable organisations through better communication.
Squirrel is an advisor, author, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant, and he's helped over 300 companies of all sizes make huge, profitable improvements in their culture, skills, and processes. You can find out more about his work here: douglassquirrel.com/index.html
Jeffrey is Vice President of Engineering at ION Analytics, Organiser at CITCON, the Continuous Integration and Testing Conference, and is an accomplished author and speaker. You can connect with him here: www.linkedin.com/in/jfredrick/
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