16 Feb 2026
36m

Episode 500: Am I the only one not getting raises and firing my whole team

Podcast cover

Soft Skills Engineering

This episode addresses career concerns, specifically stagnant wages and managing underperforming teams. The hosts acknowledge the current trend of slowed salary growth, contrasting it with the hyper-growth period of the early 2020s, and suggest that the listener's experience is now the norm. They advise listeners to focus on becoming "story generators" by taking ownership of impactful projects, even if it means challenging the status quo, to enhance their appeal to future employers. For managers dealing with underperforming teams, the advice centers on incremental improvement, honest communication with leadership, and a strategic approach to team composition, balancing the need to "raise the bar" with the realities of the workplace culture.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction, Milestones

Part 2: Career Growth, Economic Context

Part 3: Professional Development, Promotion Strategies

Part 4: Management Challenges, Team Performance

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