Sprint Review Unfiltered Chris and Saad

Chris and Saad discuss the importance of curiosity and problem statement in the decision-making process. They also explore the concept of 'Yes Man' and the potential pitfalls of always saying yes. They delve into the challenges of people-pleasing and the need to recognize conflicts in values. The conversation highlights the significance of saying no and providing explanations for the decision. They also discuss strategies for handling unrealistic requests and extreme demands. Finally, they address the perception of selfishness and offer insights on navigating a challenging working environment. In this episode, Chris and Saad discuss the aftermath of a failed project and the impact it has on morale and well-being. They explore the importance of values in the workplace and how a mismatch between personal values and company values can lead to dissatisfaction. The conversation also delves into the art of saying no and setting boundaries to prioritize work effectively. They discuss the role of stakeholders in decision-making and the importance of building relationships with them. The episode concludes with a discussion on the benefits of coaching and mentoring in improving stakeholder management.

In this conversation, Chris and Saad discuss the concept of scaling product teams and the importance of building a shipyard rather than just focusing on building a ship. They explore the challenges and strategies involved in upscaling teams, including hiring, onboarding, and managing dependencies. They also touch on the role of learning and development in upskilling team members and the importance of communication and collaboration throughout the scaling process. In this conversation, Chris and Saad discuss various aspects of building and scaling teams. They explore what makes a good manager for scaling a team, the challenges of building and structuring a team, starting a new division in a startup, onboarding new team members, defining the problem and solution, building something that does not scale, and the importance of healthy conflict in decision making.

In this conversation, Chris and Saad discuss the impact of bad managers on employee retention. Chris shares that several of his close friends have recently resigned due to bad management, and they all resigned without having lined up new opportunities. They explore the reasons behind bad management, including the lack of training for managers and the common practice of promoting individuals without providing them with the necessary skills and support. They also discuss the need for dual tracks in career progression, where individuals can choose to pursue managerial or individual contributor roles. The conversation highlights the importance of creating opportunities for growth and providing support for managers to succeed in their roles. This conversation covers various topics related to scaling teams, the role of a manager, and the importance of support and accountability. The speakers discuss the challenges of adding more engineers to a team and the concept of the Two Pizza Rule. They also emphasize the importance of empathy, teamwork, and honesty in managerial support. The conversation delves into the four A's of giving and receiving feedback and the role of a player coach. The speakers highlight the challenges of being an engineering manager and the impact of good managers and mentors. The conversation concludes with a reminder to seek growth outside of one's comfort zone.