Voice of the Leaders

Sometimes we tend to keep our leaders at arm's length. We have gained a certain cynicism from our experience with stereotypically bad managers. What if we were to ask our leaders directly how they view their jobs. What are they thinking? What are their intentions? Perhaps by knowing more, we can gain better appreciation for what they do and participate in their work in better ways.

Transcript

1. View Slide

2. View Slide

3. View Slide

4. "What was she thinking when she wrote
   this terrible code?"
   

   View Slide

5. "This feature is taking way too long to
   write."
   

   View Slide

6. "These priorities are totally arbitrary."
   

   View Slide

7. "How hard is it to write code that doesn't
   throw an exception?"
   

   View Slide

8. "Hurry up and get to our ELK
   Kubernetes shipper tentacle! What's
   taking so long?"
   

   View Slide

9. "Doesn't he have some beans to count
   so we can get back to the real work?"
   

   View Slide

10. “She doesn’t seem committed to giving
    her full effort.”
    

    View Slide

11. View Slide

12. "There must have been a good reason
    for this code."
    

    View Slide

13. "This feature is complicated. It has been
    challenging to get right."
    

    View Slide

14. "Thanks for sharing with me the
    discovery experience. Let's work on
    these priorities."
    

    View Slide

15. "I know there's a lot on the
    implementation checklist. May I help you
    review it?"
    

    View Slide

16. "I know you're dealing with a lot of
    moving targets right now. I'll try to be
    patient."
    

    View Slide

17. "What is my leader's good intent in
    asking me this question?"
    

    View Slide

18. "She's usually on her game. I wonder
    how I can help."
    

    View Slide

19. View Slide

20. View Slide

21. View Slide

22. "Mans desires are limited by
    his perceptions; none can
    desire what he has not
    perceived."
    William Blake
    

    View Slide

23. mind?
    intention?
    desire?
    do?
    

    View Slide

24. View Slide

25. give time
    generous
    listen first
    “Your leader owes
    you a conversation.”
    

    View Slide

26. feel safe
    got their back
    "I want to feel like we
    could come and sit by
    each other at each
    others’ desk any time"
    

    View Slide

27. care a lot
    open
    vulnerable
    "that emotion and intent
    behind it is really powerful"
    

    View Slide

28. care personally for us
    

    View Slide

29. look further
    purpose
    possibility
    

    View Slide

30. share
    consumable
    "easy to think
    everyone
    knows"
    

    View Slide

31. create a vision
    

    View Slide

32. support
    “hard to go out on a limb… on your own”
    

    View Slide

33. represent
    avoid overload
    side-by-side
    "It always feels like it takes so long
    if you're not the one doing the work."
    

    View Slide

34. are advocates for us
    

    View Slide

35. share
    trends
    collaborate
    talents
    

    View Slide

36. bring us together
    

    View Slide

37. space
    explore
    encourage
    "push them out the door; get out of
    the house; check out the back yard"
    

    View Slide

38. stabilize
    dreams
    responsibility
    

    View Slide

39. encourage our autonomy
    

    View Slide

40. own challenges
    recognize
    leaders
    "remember to take
    time [for yourself]"
    

    View Slide

41. coach us to grow
    

    View Slide

42. inspire
    boundaries
    challenge
    “be in line with the org, but
    [have a] local culture”
    

    View Slide

43. inspire innovation
    

    View Slide

44. meta
    preserve
    evolve with purpose
    "the work will get done; I care most
    about the culture"
    

    View Slide

45. care about the culture
    

    View Slide

46. View Slide

47. View Slide

48. me?
    

    View Slide

49. View Slide

50. "Dwell in possibility"
    Emily Dickinson
    

    View Slide

51. thank
    you
    

    View Slide