Category: executive

Lessons from Yahoo News’ Failures

Chris Lehmann’s Purple Reign gives an inside view into the demise of the Yahoo News machine.  Weighing in at nearly 9 thousand words it might take you a while to get through it.  I’ve snipped out some of my favorite passages from my own perspective. The original article is a much better read than my uneven summary.

Beg, Borrow, Steal

Lehmann relates how one of his reporters acted to get his job done without overdue concern to corporate support:

My reporting team did important and groundbreaking work on … the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill—our reporter moved down to New Orleans from New York, on his own dime, to cover it.

Often we have to get things done without all the support we would like–without all the resources we think we need. I like this example of dedication from this reporter who moved to the site of a big story to cover it.

Continue reading Lessons from Yahoo News’ Failures

Overcome Optimistic Time

Because I recently delivered a lecture at Utah Valley University titled “Overcoming Optimism” I’m tickled by Seth Godin’s quick post on optimistic time.

Giving optimistic estimates can seriously handicap a web developer.  The people getting your estimates use them as a yardstick for judging your competence. Often they don’t have any better yardstick for judging your ability than how well you make your own deadlines.

It’s hard for you to be good enough to make up for consistently missing your own estimated delivery dates.

Rule of thumb: Treat every estimated date as a commitment. Give yourself plenty of time to be wrong.

How can you become good at this? Pay attention to your track record. Actually take notes on the estimates you give and how they turn out. Ask yourself some questions and adjust your estimating behavior:

  • How many of your estimates are you hitting?
    • Less than 80%: you probably need to give bigger estimates.
    • 100%: you should consider whether you are being aggressive enough.
  • How frantic are you toward the end of a schedule?
    • Never in any rush: probably not aggressive enough.
    • Hair on fire every time: give yourself more time.
    • “What deadline?” Ouch! You need to care about deadlines.

Don’t Talk About Being Professional

In the context of crowing about coming to work even though you are sick: Professionals don’t talk about being professional they just are professional. Mark Horstman, Manager Tools podcast “Yes, Go To Work Sick.” 19:23

Buffet’s ABCs of Corporate Decay

[The] ABCs of business decay… are arrogance, bureaucracy and complacency…. When these corporate cancers metastasize, even the strongest of companies can falter. Warren Buffet in letter to stakeholders as reported in http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-28/buffett-says-next-ceo-must-fight-decay-complacency-at-berkshire

Having an Employee Performance Metrics Policy

About two years ago, pondering some of my new managerly duties, I wondered, “How do you rank employees?” Every year I have to rank employees and make tough decisions: Should we extend that internship? Should we promote that developer? How will we distribute raises? I can’t manage based on my gut. It’s not enough to feel… Continue reading Having an Employee Performance Metrics Policy

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