HBR on Google Engineering Management

Project Oxygen identified 8 manager behaviors I’m annoyed that there are no actual behaviors in this list, HBR. The Google manager feedback survey has questions that seem much more actionable.

 in the best managers:

  1. Is a good coach
  2. Empowers the team and does not micromanage (See the sidebar “How Google Defines One Key Behavior”)
  3. Expresses interest in and concern for team members’ success and personal well-being
  4. Is productive and results-oriented
  5. Is a good communicator–listens and shares information
  6. Helps with career development
  7. Has a clear vision and strategy for the team
  8. Has key technical skills that help him or her advise the team (Garvin 2013)

Micromanagement

Engineers hate being micromanaged on the technical side but love being closely managed on the career side. (Garvin 2013)

Garvin, David A. 2013. “How Google Sold Its Engineers on Management.” Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2013/12/how-google-sold-its-engineers-on-management.

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