(2016 - 1/9) The Impossible Job

Calibrate 2016 (1/9) - http://www.calibratesf.com/

"The Impossible Job" - Michael Lopp, Slack, VP of Engineering

"In this talk, we'll walk through a finite set of hacks that you can instantly apply to your day to help be a better leader."

Michael is a Silicon Valley-based engineering leader who builds both people and product at companies such as Borland, Netscape, Palantir, and Apple. While he's not worrying about staying relevant, he writes about pens, bridges, people, poker, and werewolves at the popular weblog, 'Rands in Repose'. He currently works as the VP of Engineering at Slack in San Francisco.

http://randsinrepose.com/
https://twitter.com/rands

Calibrate is a conference for new engineering leaders hosted by seasoned engineering leaders. Organized and hosted by Sharethrough, it was conducted on September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2016 in San Francisco, California.

Transcript

1. The Impossible Job lopp / calibrate /
2. hi
7. On the topic of leadership hacks.
8. At MIT, a "hacker" is someone who does some sort of interesting and creative work at a high intensity level. This applies to anything from writing computer programs to pulling a clever prank that amuses and delights everyone on campus.
10. Hacks. Small bits of wisdom that pay unexpectedly high return on time invested.
11. Disclaimer #1: My situation
12. Disclaimer #2: My therapy
13. This job is impossible.
14. 1 You are greatly outnumbered by chaotic beautiful snowflakes. 2 There is too much to do and too much to know. 3 There is never enough time. Their expectations are unattainable. 4
15. 1 There is never enough time.
16. #1 Two minutes early for everything.
17. #2 Office hours.
18. #3 Move the clock towards you.
19. You are greatly outnumbered by chaotic beautiful snowflakes. 2
20. #4 The most important meeting.
21. #5 Learn everyone’s first name.
22. #6 Three questions before any meeting.
23. #7 Rainbows & Unicorns
24. #7 Rainbows & Unicorns ?
26. #7 Compliment frequently.
27. There is too much to do and too much to know. 3
28. #8 Continually fix small things.
29. #9 Know the most important numbers.
30. #10 Share profusely.
31. Their expectations are unattainable. 4
32. Their expectation is that you are the best version of them.
33. #11 Think before you speak.
34. #12 Admit and explain failures.
35. #13 Weaponize rumor crushing.
36. #14 Smile as the sky falls.
37. #15 Pick one thing.
38. #15 Pick one thing.
41. Be unfailingly kind.
42. Leadership is possible
43. lopp / calibrate / Q&A