# Adam Dray's Manager Readme

**VP Software at BSS**

 **Heya!**

I'm Adam. I've been programming most of my life. Along the way, I've had some great managers and some awful ones, and I learned a lot from both kinds. In software engineering, good management -- good leadership -- ultimately is about putting people first. Everyone is motivated by different things, but everyone wants to succeed. Figure out what motivates a person best, make them happy and help them be successful, and you'll bring out the best in a team.

# Leadership Style

**As a manager and leader, my prime directive is to make everyone successful: you, the team, the department, the project, the business, everyone.**

My role is to keep an eye on the macro level so that you can get in the zone and focus on the details. I'll protect you from needless administrivia, purposeless meetings, and interruptions. I'll also get in the trenches with you, if you want me to. I've transitioned to leadership roles, but I still keep my hands in technology and write some code now and then.

**I serve. I collaborate. I coach. I protect. I lead.**

# **Motivation**

We're all **highly motivated professionals.**  But certain things kill the shine, so let's shake it up occasionally.

- Let's **try new things:** processes, technologies, approaches. If it doesn't work, we'll back up.
- Let's **break big things into smaller things.** It feels good to get things done.
- Let's work **together**  **as a team** sometimes, because collaboration is fun.
- Let's work **solo** sometimes, because sometimes you're in the zone.

Motivation is a combination of fulfillment, autonomy, contribution, recognition, and potential for growth.

- I'll make sure you have **interesting work**.
- I'll let you **do things how you want** , because you're good at what you do.
- I'll **tell you the goals** of the company and team so you know where we're going.
- I'll **recognize you** when you did something good, and let you know.
- I'll offer **development paths** for you to develop your skills and career, even if they're informal.

# **Communication**

- I think a lot of developers are **introverts** like me. I get you. 
- **I'll help you communicate more**. It won't be awful, I promise. I have coping strategies.
- **Keep me in the loop** , so I can represent all your needs and priorities.
- I'm happy to **carry the message for you**. Just let me know.
- I like to **discuss team priorities ** every day at Scrum, but just for a minute or two.
- Let's have **meetings that matter**. Meetings without decisions or debate are probably a waste of time. 
- **Tell me how it is, really. ** I'll be honest and direct with you. You do the same for me.

## **1x1s**

- I think **1x1s are really important** for communication, work and life updates, voicing your concerns to me, and getting to know each other.
- I'll set up a **half hour 1x1** with you every week or two. 
- **Cancel** if you're busy that day, or don't feel like chatting. This is your time, not mine. 
- **A 1x1 doesn't have to be**  **all work**. It's fine if we talk about hobbies, the world, or whatever. I want to get to know you as a human being.
- We can use the time to talk about **software geekery** , too. I'm an endless font of it.
- Mostly, it's a half hour a week that you know you have reserved my attention, if you want it, **without having to ask for it**.  

# **Agile**

- I prefer to work on **little-A agile** projects; that is, **agile in philosophy and motivation**. 
- That might mean big-A Agile, or Scrum, or whatever, but it doesn't have to be that formal.
- **We**  **react quickly and easily to change**.
- We  **use metrics**  to understand how we're doing.
- We build with  **testing**  in mind and with the expectation to  **refactor**  later.  

- We improve by **making incremental changes** in our processes, tools, methods, and behaviors, with ownership of problems, but without blame or punishment.
- We are **introspective** and **honest** with ourselves about what we should improve.  
- **I am part of the process, too** , and you should share opinions on what I need to change to serve you better.

# **Expectations**

- **Everyone is motivated** to work, communicate, learn, improve, and get along with others.
- Everyone treats everyone else with **respect**.
- **Care.** Own problems and their solutions. Don't assume it's someone else's problem.
- Spend the time to **do it right**. Let me know if you need more time to fix something or architect it correctly. Tech debt should be a group decision.