Jeff Escalante: How to Build and Run Effective Engineering Teams

Links

• Codecrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
• Stately: https://stately.ai
• Clerk: https://clerk.com
• Jeff on 𝕏: https://x.com/jescalan

Summary

In this episode, Jeff Escalante (Director of Engineering at Clerk.com) discusses his shift from web development to management, emphasizing replacing oneself as an IC, expanding vision, and acting at the promotion level. He covers leveling employees, handling interview ambiguity, prioritizing customer needs, using Clerk’s feedback system, and choosing tools like ProductLane. The talk also highlights evaluating tech skills, being authentic at work, and balancing honesty with team safety.

Takeaways

1. Promotions and Management: Manage current duties before moving to management; promotions should reflect demonstrated behavior and vision, with clear guidelines and support from companies.

2. Handling Ambiguity and Feedback: Address ambiguity in interviews with thoughtful analysis and solutions; prioritize customer feedback and tech debt using centralized systems.

3. Choosing Software and Partnerships: Select software based on integration and vendor responsiveness; collaborate with smaller companies for mutual benefits.

4. Tech Skills and Authenticity: Evaluate tech skills and adaptability in interviews; be authentic while adapting to work contexts.

5. Relationships and Communication: Balance honesty and trust in relationships; respect communication preferences to build genuine connections. Jeff's handbook offers valuable insights for engineering teams.

Chapters

00:00 Jeff Escalante

04:40 Introduction and Background

07:52 Starting Out in Web Development

13:39 Transitioning to Management at HashiCorp

17:42 Working on Websites and Next.js

29:49 Promotions and Expanding Field of Vision

36:43 Navigating Promotions and Expectations

41:16 Dealing with Frustration and Finding New Opportunities

41:50 The Importance of Properly Leveling Employees

43:21 Strategies for Leveling Employees

47:09 Handling Ambiguity in Interviews

50:48 The Value of Conversation in Defining Projects

53:21 Determining Comfort Levels in Ambiguity

53:54 The Vision-Scope Leveling Question

58:23 Prioritizing Customer Needs and Tech Debt

01:01:02 Navigating the Chaos of Undefined Spaces

01:05:55 Listening to Customer Feedback at Clerk

01:12:07 Importance of Centralized Feedback System

01:12:56 Challenges in Mapping Feedback to Projects

01:15:47 Choosing Product Lane over Other Tools

01:20:17 Value of Partnerships and Investing in Software

01:23:51 The Third Pillar: Evaluating Tech Skills and Handling Ambiguity

01:29:55 Honoring Context and Being Your Full Self

01:31:43 Navigating Personal and Professional Relationships

01:39:02 Balancing Honesty and Building Genuine Relationships

01:40:05 Closing Remarks and Handbook Release

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