Soft Skills Engineering

Episode 412: Work-life-team balance and getting code-sniped

This podcast episode explores the value of physical movement in stimulating creativity and finding solutions to programming problems. It also discusses the challenges of work-life balance, communication boundaries, cultural differences, and privilege in the tech industry. The episode emphasizes the importance of priori...

Episode 411: We have a secret org chart and I'm a big fish in a little pond

This podcast episode explores various challenges and dynamics within organizations, particularly in the context of flat hierarchies. The speakers discuss the existence of hidden org charts, the difficulties of middle management, and the importance of clarity in roles and responsibilities. They also touch upon topics su...

Episode 410: Guaranteed cost-of-living raises and my manager doesn't like me

This podcast episode explores various challenges related to employment agreements, compensation structures, salary discussions, and dealing with difficult managers in the software industry. It highlights topics such as the absence of cost of living adjustments in employment agreements, unique compensation structures at...

Episode 409: Fancy title to IC and CRUD is crud

This podcast episode covers a range of topics including the myth of the 10x developer, transitioning to a new role, the risks of disregarding warnings about technology, the importance of questioning assumptions, and pursuing game development as a side hustle. The speakers emphasize the need for humility, open communica...

Episode 408: Terrible retrospectives and "hard to work with"

This podcast episode explores the challenges and benefits of retrospectives in the workplace. It discusses the dislike some individuals have towards retrospectives and the importance of shifting the focus towards process improvement. The episode also highlights the significance of creating a safe space for discussing f...

Episode 407: I'm too territorial and should I quiet quit?

This podcast episode explores various topics related to working as an engineer and navigating workplace dynamics. The speakers discuss the importance of understanding complexity, letting go of territorial behavior, and finding a balance between effort and self-preservation. They also touch on the concept of "quiet quit...

Episode 406: Acquired taste and limited mentorship

This podcast episode explores various topics such as the challenges faced by a senior engineer in a small software company after it was acquired by a larger organization, the confusion surrounding pay schedules and PTO policies, the complexities of company acquisitions, the benefits of staying at a company for financia...

Episode 405: Scaled agile pain and top-heavy team

This podcast episode explores the challenges and considerations surrounding the roles of Scrum Masters in software development teams and the management of tech debt. The speakers discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of having Scrum Masters, the impact of senior engineers on tech debt resolution, and the mindset...

Episode 404: Interview comedy and talking pay while new

This podcast episode explores various topics including the impact of Counter-Strike skins on gameplay, the use of humor in job interviews, the risks and benefits of making jokes during interviews, the limitations of culture-fit interviews, the concept of the "salary game" to address salary disparities, the pros and con...

Episode 403: Massaging the software and career never-never-land

Episode 402: It's all on fire and title inflation

This podcast episode explores various topics including the concept of abstraction in software engineering, the challenges of transitioning between management and individual contributor (IC) roles, the negative effects of a chaotic work culture, the importance of sleep for overall health, and the impact of title inflati...

Episode 401: I AM the superstar and pro-rated raise

This podcast episode delves into the dilemma high-performing individuals face when their success impacts their colleagues. It explores the dynamics between top performers and legacy team members, the ethical dilemma of outperforming coworkers, and the delicate balance between excelling and maintaining a healthy work en...

Episode 400: Underperforming intern and upskilling

This podcast episode covers a range of topics, including the abundance of JavaScript frameworks, evaluating interns, dealing with underperforming team members, and overcoming feelings of inadequacy in one's career. The hosts share anecdotes, provide advice and strategies, and emphasize the importance of setting clear e...

Episode 399: Higher paid than my boss and crossing over to management

This podcast episode explores the nuances of salary negotiation and management in the tech industry. The speakers highlight that in some cases, senior software engineers can negotiate salaries exceeding those of their managers, challenging the traditional hierarchy. Open conversations about compensation are encouraged,...

Episode 398: Tech lead for contractors and how to detach my ego from my work

This podcast episode stresses the importance of considering legal and ethical responsibilities when mentoring contractors, including the potential consequences of mentoring contractors too extensively. It highlights the benefits of mentoring contractors as a side hustle and emphasizes the need for proper onboarding doc...

Episode 397: Skunkworks and too much work/life balance

This podcast episode explores various topics, including the challenges engineers face in convincing management to invest in projects with unclear business value, the complexities of secret projects or "skunk work", the user-friendly Single Sign-On (SSO) platform "WorkOS", a dilemma faced by an employee in a company wit...

Episode 396: Enthusiastic scope creep and human search engine

This podcast episode delves into the challenges and complexities faced when working with product managers and developers. It highlights the differences in perspectives, expectations, and responsibilities that can arise between these roles, leading to challenges in creating acceptance criteria, managing work items, prio...

Episode 395: Super star teammate and Getting better with no financial incentives

This podcast episode delves into coping with productivity disparities among teammates, appreciating individual strengths and weaknesses, and overcoming challenges faced by newer developers compared to experienced ones. It highlights the significance of acknowledging and appreciating highly productive colleagues, and in...

Episode 394: Scrum master, weapons master and minimum tenure to not look bad

This podcast episode focuses on various challenges faced in the workplace, including difficulties faced by a team transitioning from a Scrum/Kanban methodology to a traditional Scrum/Sprint approach, addressing difficult work situations, resolving team dynamics and performance issues, understanding the complexities of ...

Episode 393: Soft skills for interns and intern to QA

This podcast explores prompt injection, emphasizing its power and entertainment value, and highlights the importance of soft skills for interns seeking success in big tech companies. It also discusses the challenges faced by engineers transitioning from an intern to a full-time role or from a QA to a software developme...