Podcasts by Leading Questions Podcast
We are Dawn Kuczwara and Jer Lance, technologists, leaders, an people who are often accused of talking too much. Join us as we answer your questions about leadership, becoming a leader, and knowledge work in general. Our answers come from our experience, and arrive with a sense of humor. Email us at questions@leadingquestionspodcast.com (and no, we couldn't find a longer URL)
Further podcasts by Dawn Kuczwara and Jer Lance
Podcast on the topic Management
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Bookclub 25: No Rules Rules - Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention from 2021-06-15T09:00:05
It's time to talk about No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Miller
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Episode 105 - Even When He's Wrong, He's Right from 2021-06-08T09:00:50
In this episode, we answer the question:
Bookclub 24 - Tribes from 2021-05-18T13:58:27
Let's discuss Listen
Episode 103 - Quickly, to the Pink Squirrel-mobile! from 2021-05-11T09:00:18
This episode's question...
My position is cross-functional - I work with people from across the business in a multitude of disciplines. One of the people that I inte...
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Bookclub 23 - Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World from 2021-04-20T09:00:18
Let's discuss Listen
Episode 100 - Where Everybody Knows Your Name from 2021-03-30T09:00:06
Welcome to the 100th episode of Leading Questions!
We're doing something a little different to commemorate this episode - instead of a listener question, Dawn and Jer ask each other quest...
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Bookclub 22 - The Biggest Bluff from 2021-03-23T09:00:19
Let's discuss Listen
Episode 98 - She's Kerosene from 2021-03-02T09:00:07
In this episode we talk about...
Recently, I started leading a new group of people at my work. In the process of getting to know everyone, I noticed something and I don't kno...
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Episode 97 - Everything is Alright from 2021-02-02T09:00:19
In this episode we talk about...
At the beginning of 2021, I'm going to be taking on a lot of new projects and work. Over the past few months, I've been freaking out, trying ...
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Episode 17 - Are You Experienced? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This episode's question:
At work, I have been interviewing internally for management positions, but I haven't been getting them. I get feedback that I show promise or I have some id... Listen
Episode 16 - Your Hosts from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
In this episode, we address a recurring series of questions that has come up numerous times: who are we and why should you care what we have to say about leadership? Join us as we spend an hour int...
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Episode 15 - Personal Bias from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This episode's question:
Why does it feel personal when you get laid off or fired? How do you deal with laying off or firing someone when you actually do have a bias against them? Listen
Bookclub 21 - Moment of Lift from 2020-12-15T09:00:38
Let's discuss Listen
Episode 95 - Wizard Needs Food Badly from 2020-12-08T09:00:29
This episode is all fun and games, other than the parts that aren't...
My company moved everyone to WFH when COVID-19 hit our state. It’s been several months and my team has ...
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Episode 94 - The Kids from 2020-11-24T09:00:05
In this week's episode, we answer...
My family is a dual income home. My partner is still working, and I’ve been laid off. So I’ve taken over the household and our two young ...
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Bookclub 20 - The Art of Leadership from 2020-11-17T09:00:58
Time to discuss the current bookclub book, Listen
Episode 93 - Sacrifice Theory from 2020-11-10T09:00:04
In this episode...
Like many, I’ve been furloughed. I work in the event industry, so being brought back full time is looking grim until spring next year. The company I work f...
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Episode 92 - The Disease from 2020-10-20T09:00:14
This episode, we answer this:
My brother works in a manufacturing engineering plant. The company is a week or more behind promised delivery dates to various customers and has...
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Bookclub 19: Radical Candor from 2020-10-13T09:01:39
It's time to talk about Listen
Episode 91 - Oi to the World from 2020-09-29T09:00:07
In this episode, we answer the question:
Each Christmas my team puts together a group gift that they give to me along with a card. Each year, I write a nice card for each of ...
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Bookclub 18 - The Phoenix Project from 2020-09-03T09:00:16
So now we circle back and read Listen
Episode 89 - Black Lives Matter from 2020-08-18T09:00:57
Later than we'd have liked, we answer a question that is very timely and important:
How do I talk about Black Lives Matter and the protests and all that with my team? I know ...
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Episode 88 - Working for the Weekend from 2020-08-04T09:00:48
In this episode, we answer:
My boss has been trying to transition our team from everybody working all the time, day or night to setting realistic expectations for support and...
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Bookclub 17 - Unicorn Project from 2020-07-14T09:00:20
Find out if we're crazy for reading them out of order, but this bookclub episode covers Listen
Episode 87 - Basket Case from 2020-07-07T09:00:53
Our question for this episode is:
I occasionally get invited to do social things with some of my employees and if I'm interested in the event itself I'll go - typically thing...
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Episode 86 - Gotta Get Away from 2020-06-23T09:00:59
In this episode, a listener asks:
I have a lot of vacation saved up. There are a few reasons for this. First, our company gives us a lot of vacation. But, second, we don't re...
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Bookclub 16 - Talking to Strangers from 2020-06-16T09:00:11
Join us as we discuss Malcolm Gladwell's Listen
Episode 85 - Puppy Monkey Baby from 2020-05-26T09:00:55
In this episode we answer:
At work we have a lot of mandatory "fun" events. If I don't participate, I'm not a team player. However, I don't enjoy them, and I'm here to work. ...
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Episode 84 - Like a Prayer from 2020-05-12T09:00
In this episode we discuss:
I have a coworker who very religious--she does regular prayer luncheons at work and talks about her involvement in various Christian charities and...
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Bookclub 15 - Peak from 2020-04-30T09:00:31
This month, we read "Listen
Episode 83 - Not a Credible Threat from 2020-04-28T09:00:59
In this episode, in between rants we answer this question:
My boss hates his job and bitches about it all the time. He doesn't complain to everybody, just to me and a few sel...
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Episode 82 - Over the Top from 2020-04-14T09:00:34
In a very special episode relevant to world events we answer:
The work our company does doesn't lend itself to work from home, and the industry we supply to is dead in the wa...
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Episode 81 - Walking with a Ghost from 2020-03-31T09:00:32
Now that Jer is done being sick, we're back with this question:
My work takes referrals and recently I referred a friend of mine that I thought would be a good fit for a posi...
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Episode 80 - Office Parkour from 2020-03-03T09:00:59
In this episode, we answer the question:
What am I supposed to do when I feel so busy I can't get things done? How can I get out of this mind set, use it to my advantage, and...
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Bookclub 14 - 12 Rules for Life from 2020-02-20T09:00:54
This month, we read "Listen
Episode 79 - Gwyneth P's V from 2020-02-18T09:00:14
In this episode, we answer:
While working on a dev team a while ago, we were reviewing our job postings as a group to ensure they reflected our actual needs. One of the requi...
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Episode 78 - The Shit Mobile from 2020-02-04T09:00:06
We're back to single-question episodes with this one:
Recently I was speaking with several other leaders from my company and the subject of Glassdoor came up. One leader ment...
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Bookclub 13 - How to do Nothing from 2020-01-23T10:59:07
This month's book is "Listen
Episode 77 - Short Questions, Part 2 from 2020-01-21T09:00:51
Join us as we continue to ask some of the quick hit questions posed to us over the past couple of years. The questions in this one are:
- Do you check the social media of... Listen
Episode 76 - Short Questions, Part 1 from 2020-01-07T20:55:25
Over the past several years, we've accumulated numerous questions that probably aren't big enough to support an entire episode on their own, so, we bundled a bunch together and rocket through th...
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Bookclub 12 - The Hard Thing About Hard Things from 2019-12-12T09:00:21
This month's book is Ben Horowitz's "Listen
Episode 75 - Racism Sucks from 2019-12-10T09:00:42
In this episode, we respond to the troubling observation...
I think my boss is a racist. He has said things like:
- "I can't hire someone the team won't be able t... Listen
Episode 74 - Why Don't You Get a Job from 2019-11-26T09:00:22
This episode's question is...
Why is hiring and recruiting so broken? Why does nobody do it well?
Read along with us as we read "Listen
Bookclub 11 - Reality is Broken from 2019-11-15T09:00:54
This month's book is Jane McGonigal's "Listen
Episode 73 - Money for Nothin' from 2019-11-12T09:00:24
In this episode, we answer...
As a leader, what is the best way to deal with coworkers who were mistakenly given your salary by upper management? Not only have they disclosed...
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Episode 72 - Flock of Monkeys from 2019-10-29T09:00:48
In this episode, we discuss a leader of leaders' struggle with a member of their team over-committing and throwing their team under the bus.
I'm a leader of leaders. One of t...
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Bookclub 10 - Measure What Matters from 2019-10-15T09:02:43
This month, we read "Listen
Episode 71 - Chasing Waterfall from 2019-10-15T09:00:03
In this episode, we talk scrum masters and iterative delivery:
I'm a product owner in a team that just started doing agile a few month ago and our scrum master is not great a...
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Episode 70 - Our Own Worst Enemy from 2019-10-01T09:00:12
A listener asked a little bit about us, this episode:
Why do you lead? Specifically, what made you change from technology to leadership?
Clearly, we have...
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Bookclub 9 - 5 Dysfunctions of a Team from 2019-09-17T09:02:55
For our ninth book, we read "Listen
Episode 69 - Googleable from 2019-09-17T09:00
In this episode, we answer...
One of the goals assigned to me when I was hired at my current company is to train a new junior systems engineer so he can develop a broader ski...
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Episode 68 - Life Less Frightening from 2019-09-03T09:00:34
This episode, we answer the question...
How do you switch careers? I'm worried about completely starting over and then finding out I hate the new one.
Do...
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Bookclub 8 - Drive from 2019-08-20T14:59
In this, our eighth bookclub episode, we talk about "Listen
Episode 67 - Andy Capp Fry Flu from 2019-08-20T14:58:34
In this episode, we respond to...
I want to be promoted to a leader role because all of our leaders suck. We need somebody that knows how software is delivered to lead these ...
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Episode 66 - Loser of the Year from 2019-08-06T09:00:14
In this episode, we answer the following question:
You both have talked a lot about letting employees fail, but what if they fail constantly? I teach them how to do things ri...
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Bookclub 7 - Slack from 2019-07-23T09:01:41
In our seventh bookclub episode, we discuss Tom Demarco's "Listen
Episode 65 - Ch-ch-ch-changes from 2019-07-23T09:00:47
This episode, we discuss changes...
Many things at my current company are changing, and most are not for the better. The culture and the goals are just not the same as when I...
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Episode 64 - Under Your Authority from 2019-07-09T09:00:57
This episode's question is...
I've recently been promoted to director at work starting very soon. I've never led leaders before. What can I expect? What will be different and...
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Bookclub 6 - Ego is the Enemy from 2019-06-25T09:02:21
This episode, we discuss “Ego is the Enemy" by Ryan Holiday.
Episode 63 - You Can Go Your Own Way from 2019-06-25T09:00:28
This episode's question is...
When I started in my current position a couple of years ago, I made clear that my expectation was that travel would be minimal. Over time, my ro...
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Episode 62 - Simple Plan from 2019-06-11T11:48:42
This episode's question...
I get very frustrated when things change constantly. I plan for so long and then my company just changes direction entirely and all of my plans are...
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Bookclub 5 - How to Lead When You're Not in Charge from 2019-05-14T09:01:30
This episode, we discuss “Listen
Episode 61 - I Live in a Cake from 2019-05-14T09:00:07
This episode's question:
I'm really having trouble with delivering what our scrum master thinks is a good minimum viable product. Our agile coaches do a good job of explainin...
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Episode 60 - Expired Mentadent from 2019-04-30T09:00:38
This episode's question:
A team lead at my company leads 3 contractors that are on site part time, and they don't seem to be taking ownership of the code they're creating. Th...
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Bookclub 4 - Start With Why from 2019-04-16T09:01:17
Join our discussion of Simon Sinek's book "Listen
Episode 59 - Never Measure Up from 2019-04-16T09:00:54
This episode's question:
We use Agile at work, but now management is doing a bunch of measurement and using dashboards and looking for better and better measures. I don't thi...
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Episode 58 - POA from 2019-04-02T09:00
This episode's question:
I'm working on a project, and a lot of the questions that are being asked are coming off as very sexist. Lately I've been responding with answers tha...
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Bookclub 3 - Creativity, Inc from 2019-03-26T09:01:14
We discuss Ed Catmull’s book about leading Pixar to greatness in Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Force...
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Episode 57 - Fixing Missing Stairs from 2019-03-26T09:00:50
This episode's question:
I have a member of my new team who is very senior, they have been around for a very long time and they are a huge pain. Everybody talks about how dif...
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Episode 56 - White Collar Fraud (feat Angela Dugan) from 2019-03-05T09:00:42
A listener asked on Facebook about impostor syndrome. It's a topic that comes up a lot, both in questions from listeners and in conversation during shows. This episode Dawn, Jer, an...
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Bookclub 2 - Little Guide to Empathetic Technical Leadership from 2019-02-19T09:01:03
For our second bookclub book, we discuss The Little Guide to Empathetic Technical Leadership by Alex Harms.
Episode 55 - Socially Inept from 2019-02-19T09:00:08
In this episode:
A listener was lamenting the holiday season and how difficult it was to navigate all of the parties, dinners, and other social events as an introvert. Their ...
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Episode 54 - Living on the Bench from 2019-02-05T09:00:12
This episode's question is:
We just went through a re-org at work and the awesome team I was on has been split up. I am currently waiting for my next project, doing little bi...
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Bookclub 1 - Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck from 2019-02-04T23:52:13
Welcome to the first in our bookclub series, in which we discuss Mark Manson's Listen
Episode 53 - Leading Questions Book Club from 2019-01-22T09:00:40
A listener mentioned that we talk a lot about books we've read, both in a positive way and joking at their expense. So he posed this question:
What are some great books for l...
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Episode 52 - Have a Podcast and a Smile from 2019-01-08T09:00:17
This episode's question:
I constantly hear about branding and personal brands. They sound like bullshit. What do you think? Are they real or important?
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Episode 51 - Follow the Leader from 2018-12-25T09:00:35
This episode's question:
I've been a leader for a number of years and recently took a position with a new company. In between my coming in and the last leader exiting, th...
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Episode 50 - Farmer's Market Job Fair from 2018-12-16T15:32:08
This episode's question is:
I work for a small company of less than 100 employees. We're currently hiring additional IT team members, and I want to make sure that we are gett...
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Episode 49 -It's Been...Two Weeks from 2018-11-27T09:00:09
This episode's question is:
I have been mulling around my impending severance from the company I work for, and I can't help perseverating over one detail. The two week notice...
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Episode 48 - Inappropriate Punishments from 2018-11-13T09:00:55
This episode's question is:
I have an employee who is unhappy with changes that are being made in the company, and has been very vocal about it. About 2 months ago he informe...
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Episode 47 - Culture Club (feat. Karen Walker) from 2018-10-30T09:00:53
This episode features Karen Walker helping us answer the following question:
My company recently passed over a potential hire for culture...
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Episode 46 - Big Bang Baby from 2018-10-16T09:00:56
This episode's question is:
I've been a leader for a couple of years now and have identified some significant changes I need/want to make in my leadership style. What are you...
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Episode 45 - Fourty-six minus one from 2018-10-02T10:39:07
This episode's questions is:
Am I hurting my career prospects the longer I stay as a senior developer but where there are no lead responsibilities and no team reporting to me...
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Episode 44 - Señior Positions from 2018-09-18T09:00:49
This episode's question:
Question about applying to "senior" positions: I tick almost all of the boxes listed as required qualifications with a few exceptions I could definitely learn o... Listen
Episode 43 - I Get So Excited from 2018-09-04T09:00:02
This episode's question is a long one...
It is difficult for me to get enthusiastic about helping customers who I've never met, so instead, I motivate myself by helping my co-workers. I... Listen
Episode 42 - Bad News Bears from 2018-08-21T09:00:17
This episode's question:
Recently, I was informed that a new executive/c-level has joined the company. I found out about this on my weekly touch base with my boss, where I was introduce... Listen
Episode 41 - Missed It By That Much from 2018-08-07T09:00:47
This episode's question is:
This was an interview question at a recent job opportunity, I was curious how you'd answer it: Explain a time w... Listen
Episode 40 - The Pieces Don't Fit from 2018-07-24T09:00
This episode's question:
What do you do if you don't fit into your job?
As mentioned on the podcast...Listen
Episode 39 - You're So Brave from 2018-07-10T10:00:27
Sorry for the missed week, but we're back, bless our hearts! By my count, 10 f-bombs before we hit the 5 minute mark on this question:
I'm almost 30 and I'm single and I have no childre... Listen
Episode 38 - Speak Up from 2018-06-12T10:00:04
This episode's question is:
My company keeps pushing me to talk at conferences. Why should I?Why should you, indeed!? Listen
Episode 37 - Expensive Reimbursement from 2018-05-29T10:00:49
This episode's question:
My company encourages conference attendance and reimburses expenses/travel. Previously I purchased a hotel stay for an event and was reimbursed immediately. Mor... Listen
Episode 36 - Live from Penguicon 2018 from 2018-05-15T10:00:29
Join Yanni Kuznia and Jer as they broadcast the live Q&A from Penguicon! Questions include:
What is the worst job you've ever had (not starter jobs like fast food)? I keep hearing about... Listen
Episode 35 -Resume Folderol from 2018-05-01T10:00:36
This episode's question:
Can you please discuss your thoughts on what constitutes a good resume and, more importantly, what constitutes a terrible resume? As a hiring manager, I'm subje... Listen
Episode 34 - Discussing Dinero from 2018-04-17T10:00:48
This episode's question is:
When you're interviewing, when should you talk about salary? And how?Some events for your consideration:
Episode 33 - A Niche to Scratch from 2018-04-03T11:26:33
I want to apologize for that pun first...but, here's this episode's question:
I am currently a programmer in niche languages with specialized experience going to school to be a software... Listen
Episode 32 - Serially Fired from 2018-03-20T10:00:19
This episode's question (bear with us, it's long...):
I've been fired from my last 5 jobs, 3 of which have been in the last 9 months. Now I'm getting to the last point in interviews (3r... Listen
Episode 31 - Why Can't We Be Friends from 2018-03-06T10:00
This episode's question:
I have a person working with me that is a friend. She's a great friend but a terrible employee that is hurting my business. My question is this: how do you fire... Listen
Episode 30 - Mister Manager from 2018-02-20T10:00:53
This episode's question:
My current position has a manager title, but I have no direct reports. However, I am expected to lead others who do not report to me. What's the best way to lea... Listen
Episode 29 - Hyper-Professional (feat. Mike Eaton) from 2018-02-06T10:00:18
This episode's question:
At a previous job, I had an employee transfer from another group to mine. In chatting with her it became clear that the reason that she moved groups ...
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Episode 28 - Infinite Meetings from 2018-01-24T01:39:32
It's meetings all the way down this episode...here's our question:
At what point is it appropriate to interrupt a manager's meeting and inform him that he's wasting everybody's time? Ri... Listen
Episode 27 - Leaders Without Leaders from 2018-01-09T22:24:49
This episode's question:
I'm a leader and my manager isn't helping us get better. He keeps having leaders under him stop being leader because they can't learn how. I'm new. I want to le... Listen
Episode 26 - Goal Oriented from 2017-12-12T10:00:48
This episode's question:
How do you guys handle being on the receiving end of a performance review where you weren't able to achieve the goals that were set at the beginning of the year... Listen
Episode 25 - Leader or Executioner from 2017-11-28T12:04:13
This episode's question:
Should a manager be focused on execution or on the team? Should they be focused on both?We also mentioned Listen
Episode 24 - Tweeting on MyFaceSpaceBook from 2017-11-14T11:00:49
This episode's question is:
When it comes to hiring, are social media accounts an assets or a liability? From a management perspective, would you ever reference an employee's social med... Listen
Episode 23 - Resume Fodder from 2017-10-31T09:00
This episode's question is:
As a team lead, what do you look for when interviewing developers, or perhaps other roles as well. I feel like resumes can be BS-ish, it's easier ...
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Episode 22 - Leading Up from 2017-10-17T21:53:44
This episode's question is:
You both talked about doing things in the past to help your employees improve, but how do you do that with fellow managers or with your manager?Listen
Episode 21 - Interview Questions from 2017-10-03T12:00:49
This episode's question:
What are your favorite interview questions? What are you looking for in good answers, and what would concern you to hear?Listen
Episode 20 - The Blind Leading the Blind from 2017-09-19T12:00:05
This episode's question:
How do you lead teams that do a job you know nothing about or don't know a lot about? Can you?Listen
Episode 19 - Let's Get Ready to Fail (ThatConference 2017) from 2017-09-06T12:00
This episode's question is: What would it sound like if we could hear Dawn's talk at ThatConference 2017? I'm glad you asked, gentle reader/listener, because this is what it would sound like! Feel ...
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Episode 18 - New Kid in Town from 2017-08-22T12:00:18
This episode's question:
I'm starting a position soon as a senior engineer at a company, where my new leadership and I have discussed a potential track where I come on board as a senior... Listen