Sander Hoogendoorn, a technical leader and author with a rich coding history since 1987, shares his insights on effective technical leadership. He emphasizes the dangers of rigid structures and micromanagement, advocating for empowering small teams. Sander discusses the need for open communication and the importance of flexible project management to improve client outcomes. He also critiques hierarchical cultures and explores strategies for retaining internal expertise, making this conversation a treasure trove of practical advice for aspiring and seasoned leaders alike.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Autonomous team with rapid deployment
Sander's technical team operates autonomously without sprints or product owners. - They deploy to production 40-50 times daily with strong architectural rules and collaborative code quality practices.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Avoid Micromanagement
Avoid micromanagement as it stifles teams and damages productivity. - Empower teams to make their own decisions and respect their expertise.
insights INSIGHT
No One-Size-Fits-All Process
One-size-fits-all process enforcement fails in software development. - Every team and context requires tailored approaches; flexibility beats rigid methodologies.
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This book provides a detailed approach to implementing Continuous Delivery, focusing on automation and collaboration between development, testing, and operations teams. It emphasizes the importance of keeping software in a releasable state and highlights the benefits of frequent, low-risk deployments.
The Mythical Man-Month
Essays on Software Engineering
Frederick P. Brooks
In this book, Frederick P. Brooks discusses several key issues in software engineering, most notably 'Brooks's Law,' which states that adding manpower to a late software project makes it later. The book explores the complexities of large programming projects, the difficulties in measuring work in 'man-months,' and the importance of effective communication and team management. It also includes insights from Brooks's experience managing the development of IBM's System/360 and OS/360.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson
In this book, Mark Manson argues against the typical self-help advice of constant positivity, instead suggesting that life's struggles give it meaning. He emphasizes the need to focus on what truly matters and to accept and confront painful truths. The book is divided into nine chapters and uses blunt honesty and profanity to illustrate its ideas, encouraging readers to find meaning through values they can control and to replace uncontrollable values with more meaningful ones.
The Pragmatic Programmer
From Journeyman to Master
Andy Hunt
David Thomas
Dave Thomas
Andrew Hunt
The Pragmatic Programmer is a book that centers on how to use software to solve problems effectively and how to grow as a developer pragmatically. It was first published in 1999 and a 20th Anniversary Edition was released in 2019. The book emphasizes key qualities such as being an early adopter, having fast adaptation, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, realism, and being a jack-of-all-trades. It uses analogies and short stories to present development methodologies and caveats, including concepts like DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself), YAGNI (You Aren't Gonna Need It), and rubber duck debugging. The book covers topics such as writing clean code, estimating software delivery, instituting change, combating stagnancy, and making software processes resilient and efficient through automation and testing.
In this episode, we talk to Sander Hoogendoorn about effective technical leadership. Sander explains how rigid processes and micromanagement damage teams and why empowering small autonomous teams is key to success. He reveals how his teams can operate with minimal hierarchy and process by focusing on technical quality through practices like continuous deployment and collaborative coding. Whether you are a new manager or a seasoned CTO, you'll find practical advice and fresh perspectives on building great teams and great software.
No Nonsense Leadership 
