Leadership GardenAll posts
151 essays since 2017, newest first.
Prefer a year-by-year list? See the archive.
Bad Managers Hide From Accountability
What accountability looks like in management, and why avoiding it quietly corrodes trust and performance.
SPACE Framework: 5 Metrics That Actually Work
How to use the SPACE framework to measure engineering effectiveness without turning metrics into theatre.
On-Call Done Right
A practical guide to building on-call that is humane, reliable, and taken seriously by the whole engineering organization.
The Power Of “I Don’t Know”
Great leaders don’t fake certainty—they navigate ambiguity with confidence. Learn how saying “I do not know” can make you a stronger, smarter leader.
The Swiss Cheese Model
Learn how the Swiss Cheese Model can transform your approach to system reliability and why having holes in your tech stack might be exactly what you need.
The No-BS Guide to Engineering Team Conflicts
No-nonsense approach to resolving conflicts in engineering teams. Real examples, actionable steps, and building psychological safety.
Loyalty Is Earned, Not Given
Learn why team loyalty must be earned through consistent actions, not demanded through authority or bought with perks.
Smell the Smoke, Prevent the Fire
Learn why constant firefighting signals deeper problems and how to build more reliable engineering systems through prevention.
Stop Avoiding, Start Owning
Learn the three common accountability dodges in tech leadership and how to transform into a leader your team trusts.
The Problem with ‘Just’: Tech’s Most Dangerous Four-Letter Word
The word “just” undermines technical discussions, oversimplifies complex engineering challenges, and impacts team dynamics. Learn better communication strategies.