Managing Managers

Episode 13: Digging your well, the Staff Engineering Manager and managing burnout with Anjuan Simmons

Jan 20, 2024

Anjuan Simmons, a software development team leader, shares insights on digging your well, the role of a staff engineering manager, and managing burnout. He discusses surprising challenges in managing managers, the importance of trust and curiosity, and strategies for assessing managers' performance. Additionally, he highlights the distinction between performance and management style, the role of problem solving, and the significance of clear focus time in preventing burnout. Finally, he provides advice for first-time managing managers, emphasizing the need to understand the leadership team.

51:28

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Episode guests

Anjuan Simmons

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The importance of mentors and peers for a smooth transition into leadership.

The significance of trust and varied leadership styles in effectively managing managers.

Addressing burnout through open discussions, advocating for time, and maintaining relationships for support.

Deep dives

Understanding the Path to Leadership

The speaker shares their personal journey into leadership, discussing how they started as an analyst and eventually became a manager through the consulting model. They reflect on the support they received and the importance of mentors and peers during this transition.

Introduction

2min

Managing Managers: Surprises, Challenges, and Strategies

17min

Building a Strong Foundation and Embracing Different Management Styles

3min

The Role of a Staff Engineering Manager and Problem Solving

17min

The Importance of Clear Focus Time and Managing Burnout

7min

Advice for First-Time Managing Managers

4min

Anjuan taught me a few new concepts in this chat such as the saying of digging your well and what that means, what the unusual title of Staff Engineering Manager is and also some practical tips on managing burnout, especially important for manager of managers. Listen to this episode to find out more.

Guest Biography:

Anjuan Simmons has led software development teams for over two decades, and he excels at shipping features that customers love while also managing healthy teams. Anjuan’s goal is to help everyone he meets become the best possible version of who they are meant to be.

Transcript and show notes available here: ⁠⁠⁠https://managingmanagers.tech/episodes/episode-013-anjuan-simmons/