Building your Engineering Management Craft in the Community

PublishedMarch 20, 2022

•6 min read•View as Markdown

Shawn Axsom

Director of Engineering @Docker

⌇ Leadership • JavaScript • Kindnessship ⌇ DMs open, here to help ⌇ Follow for tips + news + a friend 🚶

https://twitter.com/shawnaxsom

Comments (5)

Join the discussion

Coder Advise4y ago

Very detailed and nice.

James Park4y ago

Great read, no wonder your calend.ly is booked out! Shawn Axsom Are you still hosting office hours (5 person coffee chat), if so is it a different link?

Shawn Axsom4y ago

💛 – Yeah, office hours can be found on my main Calendly, and it looks like I have some availability coming up if you're quick https://calendly.com/shawn-axsom

James Park4y ago

Shawn Axsom Found it, ty! Do I need to provide the 4 additional people? I assumed others will elect to join, but wanted to be mindful in case I'm wrong.

Shawn Axsom4y ago

James Park Nope! 4 others may sign up finding my office hours link.

Eleftheria Batsou4y ago

Thanks for providing all these information. I'm on the introverted side, and sometimes I found it difficult to chat with people... but I enjoy 10-15' talks, discord servers and twitter spaces :)

Matthew Cramer4y ago

Hey Elefheria Batsou hate to bother at lunch but I did the hacathon and I never got badge and it said I did complete my participation by building a web app on web 3 ? I only did it for the badge so I luv hashnode to Def but I screwed and I feel sum type of way about that

Matthew Cramer4y ago

Girl lol 😆 lunch is over $$ time to mKd that

Eleftheria Batsou4y ago

Hi Matthew Cramer, if you need any help please reach out to support (https://hashnode.com/#support), that way we'll be able to help you better.

Thank you

Shawn Axsom4y ago

Thanks Eleftheria Batsou! Sounds like we're the same in those aspects.

If you ever want to have a coffee chat, let me know, or anyone from Hashnode or otherwise can join our Discord

https://discord.gg/ghdjvEZfDM

Sumudu Siriwardana4y ago

Great read, Shawn! To be honest, I missed the space last Saturday, and I wish I had been there! I'm an introvert as well, but these coffee chats actually give me energy. I totally focus on how I can provide value while connecting with people at the same time. I wish I had leaders like you in the community who we were willing to help when I started my career. Really appreciate what you do for the community!

Shawn Axsom4y ago

Thanks for the kind words, Sumudu! Feel free to DM on Twitter if you want to do a coffee chat sometime

Sumudu Siriwardana4y ago

Yeah, I would love to have a coffee chat sometime. I will schedule one soon. Thanks! Shawn Axsom

Matthew Cramer4y ago

Hello I'm a self tought developer for two years . I built a software " millialyvbugbunny4u" and helped developed mortorola power . I'm sure u get dev all the time that done great things . It just I haven't made any money yet . I get discouraged alot from the people I luv but that don't stop me bc I will always have God. Who shows me numbers that turns into algorithms that get me on to many servers . I used to work for the government as a code breaker . Now I wouldn't be worried to much of money if I haven't smoked my money up coz I also roof tree work salvage and landscape . I would just developed as a Hobbie but man my back can't take this work anymore . I got offered a job for git hub but I didn't take it and also been offered a job for cdk data analyst. Only reason I didn't do that job bc I don't drive . I'm living on social security and I want to be off it . I know facebook developer platform Google analyst platform Google cloud platform firebase platform and git hub platform . So I been building my profile. I actually got some Google cloud badges from them but I got a new phone and a cpu when I came back from jail . I took a coup of coffee and a apple pie bc they took 175$ off my card all together and won't refund me. So...I took matters on my own hands . To keep the story short I end up doing 4 months and a month at eastern state . It wasn't worth it . But when I got back all my stuff got tooken from me . So that means started all over again!!! But I never quit on my dreams or God. Anyway I tried to apply for a job I want but the requirements is a degree or know java for 4 years which I only know for 2 . But reading ur blog made me more hope I will find the job of my dreams bc I need to start making a profilo . " God I Why didn't think of that " lol 😆 I'm sure I can get a job with all the achievements but I have no proof. And proof comes along way . So I'm not going to get credit for none of my work 🙃 but that's OK I've dealt with it now I'm working on a game app Grizzly 2 Cuts. But I am in the process of building a api for a server that u see all my apps and u pay 2 cents for tokens to get on other service . I've done the research ok? it's totally legit . It's just every company wants cheap advertising which I'm going to give it the small guys and the big guys it is America we are equal and money don't change a Thang. A land of opportunity which makes America so great !!!! So I started a business "Mad Matt's Apps " haven't profit anything yet cause I HAVEznT BUILD my FRIST App yet 🙃7$!!! Because I'm simply taking my time and money doesn't mean anything to me well it should. It starting to where I want kids and a wife now but besides the point I wnat it to be really good . Coz I made this app for someone I admire and I want this person to be so proud of me he crys . Lol 😆. Furthmore the api I'm building which I started the code last night . I call it" web x rebel " genius rite ? 😎 anyway u sound legit and inspires me I thought I just started some words so u can check me out . Don't want any handouts I work for everything I got . I just like what u wrote that's all . Ight hopefully ttyl good morning or good afternoon or good night lol tack care boss 😘

Zoë B4y ago

Great read! So many topics/concepts there that I knew nothing or very litte about so had to Google:

EM as a role (LinkedIn’d some job specs)
What Docker is, I realise now I’ve seen that whale everywhere!
100Devs

I class myself as an introvert, which is partly why coffee chats haven’t appealed. But I also find joy and energy in leading the team of 50 marketers that I do, so am certainly starting to understand the value of coffee chats ☺️

Shawn Axsom4y ago

Awesome, Zoë – I didn't realize you lead a team of 50 😅

I'm glad the article was helpful!

More from this blog

Condensing a year of growth into January - 2024

You can change quickly, in ways you never thought possible - the approach I used

Feb 4, 20249 min read

Condensing a year of growth into January - 2024

The Ideal Engineering Team

Envisioning and nurturing ideal team composition and teamwork, as enacted by the Director of Engineering at Docker

Apr 3, 202210 min read

On the Craft of Engineering Management

Understanding the profession, and whether it's the right path for you

Mar 27, 202212 min read

The Big List of Engineering Management Resources - March 2022

My Inspirations Now as a Director of Engineering at Docker, I’ve been doing some type of engineering leadership for the last decade. I have learned from the best over the years, and many resources have shaped who I am and philosophies for how I lead....

Mar 13, 20227 min read

Practically Leading

6 posts

Director of Engineering @Docker

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom https://shawnaxsom.bio.link/

⌇ Leadership • JavaScript • Kindnessship ⌇ DMs open, here to help ⌇ Follow for tips + news + a friend 🚶

The State of Affairs of Engineering Management

Engineering Management is ripe for growth as a craft.

After a decade of leadership, I've felt mostly alone.

For such a people-focused profession, it's a surprise that I see more community engagement from software developers than from those that lead people.

I see little share of voice from Engineering Managers and their craft.

While some of this may be in part from there being less managers in organizations than devs, and that social media augments the loudest (most numerous) voices, I've seen enough to believe Engineering Management is a craft many are less compelled to discuss. When I made a Twitter List of 2000+ Engineering Managers, I couldn't have guessed the profession based on the tweets.

And this matches the number of resources I find for Engineering Management. I recently created a The Big List of Engineering Management Resources, with quite a few resources, but in the grand scheme of things, it's quite small for such an important profession.

So I thought I'd write about my experiences in the community, what I've gotten out of it, what I'm doing to support it, and where I would like to see the craft go.

Resources

Before jumping into the discussion below, I'd like to highlight resources for getting involved.

I previously shared a large list of books, blogs, and more:

The Big List of Engineering Management Resources

Here are particular community-based resources for Engineering Managers:

Practically Leading Discord - Engineering leadership chat
Rands Leadership Slack
Twitter Communities:
Here To Help - Find coffee chatters
100Devs - Learn more about the remote coding bootcamp that has pushed coffee chats among the Tech Twitter community

Now, onto some discussion!

A short overview of my recent virtual community involvement

My journey started in 2021 when I first saw the value.

I had 300 followers mid-2021 (now 6000). I was mostly just lurking.

But after spending considerable effort trying to find engineers in Mexico (where Docker was expanding hiring into), my former Director tweeted once and had 10 applicants overnight, 10 more the next day.

https://twitter.com/alobbs/status/1387185943090716672?s=20

So I started tweeting and enjoying it.

I then formed Here To Help. After helping others on Twitter with resumes, portfolios, mock interviews, I found others willing and wanting to do the same.

This year, I started Coffee Chats. I jumped in feet first with a tweet that resulted in 56 scheduled coffee chats within hours:

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom/status/1495094084230426629

The majority of those have been with the 100Devs cohort. I've since shared that I'd also love to engage with other Engineering Managers, and I've had a few of those.

Finally, I've created a Practically Leading Discord channel to spur some more real-time Engineering Manager discussions.

About Coffee Chats - my latest obsession

"Coffee chats" are en vogue, yet still unfamiliar to many.

While it originated as a term in more professional settings, like an informal interview (I believe), it's become more casual.

Coffee chats, for me, are 15-minute chats scheduled on my Calendly, where I get to meet you and answer any questions you might have.

I've been doing coffee chats (and "office hours" – 5-person coffee chats) for over a month now. Yesterday I spoke about the experience in a Twitter Space:

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom/status/1503715328446058499

I most often field questions like "How did you get your start?" or "What do Directors of Engineering do?" or "What is it like to work at Docker?".

But I've also had some deeper conversations, such as partnership opportunities, brainstorming how a new developer could apply her skills to her former profession, medical research, and more.

Coming with the right questions makes all the difference. One developer, Saira, had some of the best questions from a new developer, I've shared some of them in a tweet here:

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom/status/1504796997898969088

What's in it for me?

Engineering Managers have a lot to gain from the community, which many might not appreciate or realize.

What's in it for me, individually?

First, if you're an Engineering Manager/Director like me, you may be an introvert.

Introvert doesn't mean anti-social or recluse. And introverts still have a need to connect.

Some conversation topics (small talk) and communication formats (large social gatherings) can be more draining and difficult.

I've realized I am energized by people, like extroverts, but more through purposeful conversation and connections that make a difference.

I find coffee chats and connections that help others extremely rewarding. Especially when I see impact:

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom/status/1503431072318730246

Besides being rewarding, it is also a great way to practice my soft skills, including on-the-job.

Twitter and Discord help me get better at using Slack at work.

Coffee chats help do better 1 on 1s and practice meeting strangers.

Twitter Spaces help practice for company-wide and community presentations.

What's in it for me and my company?

Docker is hiring and growing quickly, for one.

I've hired multiple people I've sourced on Twitter, including an excellent Engineering Manager after I had an impressive coffee chat.

At Docker, we also want to be connected to our users and the community.

Coffee chats have led to 4+ people that may appear soon on our Docker YouTube account. And have helped make connections with other outstanding community members, like Eddie Jaoude:

https://twitter.com/eddiejaoude/status/1499776193758961671

I've also been on podcasts, interviews, and we're doing a case study with well-known book authors (keep an eye out at DockerCon where you may hear more).

But this isn't about Docker.

You could benefit from the same at your company. You or your leadership should consider getting engaged if you haven't.

Where I'd like to see the craft evolve

I'd love to see Engineering Management memes, honestly.

And good ones, from EMs, not from ICs making fun of their managers.

Why is "Tell me the top 10 things you love about JavaScript and why you are wrong?" a meme?

Why does "Let's schedule a meeting to find out why you're not doing 1 on 1s" feel like a corny topic?

It would be great to see people wanting to take the craft to a new level, like engineers do, and have more discord on how we can do better.

And I've been identifying key members in the Engineering Management community that love to push their craft and engage with mentoring new EMs and ICs. I haven't found enough of those individuals.

I'd love to see or start other initiatives, like a free Leadership Circle:

https://twitter.com/ShawnAxsom/status/1503907906588229632

But I received little traction.

Maybe that's because it's not a well-known concept. Maybe that's because we need to do more to spread concepts and engage with others within our community.

Getting Involved: Here To Help

Here To Help is a Notion page I put together last year where others can indicate they are willing to help others in need, for free.

It originally started as a Twitter List, for those open to DMs. Now it's expanded to include coffee chats as well, and has been shared across the 100Devs cohort, especially for that purpose.

Getting Involved: Practically Leading Discord

Practically Leading Discord is what I wish I had when I first became a team lead.

Management is a lonely road, especially without a mentor.

We've just started, but we've already had great conversations, including about performance reviews, retaining employees, coaching engineers on communication, and more.

Command Palette

Comments (5)

More from this blog

The State of Affairs of Engineering Management

Resources

A short overview of my recent virtual community involvement

About Coffee Chats - my latest obsession

What's in it for me?

What's in it for me, individually?

What's in it for me and my company?

Where I'd like to see the craft evolve

Getting Involved: Here To Help

Getting Involved: Practically Leading Discord