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Level Up: Developing Developers

Level Up: Developing Developers

As video games have become more and more complex, game designers put way more time into creating environments where players are engaged and willing to put the time and effort into learning and mastering these skills.

As leads, we can learn a lot from how games are designed to make the internal developer experiences better, since it’s a similar type of environment we want to create: an environment where people can learn and master skills. We should make it easier for developers to understand what options are available to them, allow them to make time for learning and provide structures and processes for them to develop the skills that they want and need for future roles.

This talk will look at how you can help level up your developers by using competencies and career development frameworks, what types of processes you can introduce to support personal development and how developers should be using opportunities like these to get a better understanding of what skills they should focus on.

Melinda Seckington

June 11, 2019
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  1. LEVEL
    Developing
    Developers
    UP
    @mseckington

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  2. @mseckington

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  3. @mseckington

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  4. @mseckington

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  5. @mseckington

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  6. @mseckington

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  7. @mseckington

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  8. @mseckington
    Technical Manager
    at FutureLearn

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  9. @mseckington
    Our Technology Team Strategy:
    Growing our
    own software
    engineers

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  10. @mseckington
    internal
    Developer
    experience

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  11. @mseckington
    Understanding
    Motivations,
    Emotions and
    behaviours

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  12. @mseckington
    game User
    experience

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  13. @mseckington
    lessons
    Game
    DESIGN
    OF
    10

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  14. @mseckington
    STARTING A
    NEW GAME
    A
    B Learning a
    New skill
    C Leveling up

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  15. @mseckington
    STARTING A
    NEW GAME
    A

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  16. @mseckington

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  17. @mseckington

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  18. @mseckington

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  19. @mseckington

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  20. @mseckington

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  21. @mseckington

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  22. @mseckington
    Lesson 1:
    Don’t overload
    new starters

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  23. @mseckington
    Onboarding
    checklist

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  24. @mseckington

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  25. @mseckington

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  26. @mseckington

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  27. @mseckington

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  28. @mseckington

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  29. @mseckington

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  30. @mseckington
    https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end-ps4/

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  31. @mseckington
    Lesson 2:
    Support & guide
    new starters

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  32. @mseckington
    Provide a
    mentor

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  33. @mseckington

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  34. @mseckington

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  35. @mseckington
    Lesson 3:
    Make it clear
    what people
    should focus on

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  36. @mseckington
    Goal setting

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  37. @mseckington
    Tie in with
    Bigger picture
    career goals

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  38. @mseckington
    Share with
    Team members

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  39. @mseckington
    B Learning
    New skills

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  40. @mseckington

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  41. @mseckington

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  42. @mseckington

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  43. @mseckington
    Lesson 4:
    Give people
    direct & timely
    feedback

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  44. @mseckington
    Encourage
    Direct &
    timely
    Feedback

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  45. @mseckington
    Difficult
    conversations

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  46. @mseckington
    Thanks for
    The feedback

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  47. Image from: https://www.destructoid.com/opinion-why-overwatch-lost-my-interest-380341.phtml
    @mseckington

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  48. @mseckington
    Lesson 4:
    Provide space to
    reflect and learn
    from the past

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  49. @mseckington
    Self
    reflection

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  50. @mseckington
    360 feedback

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  51. @mseckington

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  52. @mseckington

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  53. @mseckington
    Lesson 6:
    Provide
    opportunities to
    apply new skills

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  54. @mseckington
    Identify
    Training

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  55. @mseckington
    Learning
    Events

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  56. @mseckington
    Talks we love
    Learning hours
    Architecture club
    Front end catchup
    Conference club
    Leadership study group

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  57. @mseckington
    Book clubs
    & course clubs

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  58. @mseckington
    C Leveling up

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  59. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1

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  60. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1

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  61. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1

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  62. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1

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  63. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1

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  64. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1
    Level
    up!

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  65. @mseckington
    Strength
    Defence
    Magic
    3
    2
    5
    Melinda: Level 1 to Level 2
    Level
    up!
    +1
    3
    2
    6

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  66. @mseckington

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  68. @mseckington
    Lesson 7:
    Acknowledge
    people’s growth

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  69. @mseckington
    Regular
    Salary
    reviews

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  70. @mseckington

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  71. @mseckington
    Lesson 8:
    Expose basic
    competencies and
    how they’re used

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  72. @mseckington
    Competencies
    & roles

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  73. @mseckington
    Curiosity
    Communication
    Technical Skills
    TeamWork Skills
    Initiative

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  74. @mseckington
    Shared competencies:
    Analytical & forward thinking
    Decisiveness
    Emotional Intelligence
    Leadership skills
    Resilience & Adaptability
    Technical architect:
    Technical Lead:
    Technical Manager:
    Technical depth
    Team management
    Storytelling
    Management skills

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  75. @mseckington

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  76. @mseckington

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  77. @mseckington

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  78. @mseckington

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  79. @mseckington
    Lesson 9:
    Allow people to
    choose their
    own path

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  80. @mseckington
    Generalise
    Or specialise

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  81. @mseckington

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  82. @mseckington

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  83. @mseckington
    Lesson 10:
    Visualize what
    progression
    looks like

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  84. @mseckington
    Career
    Progression
    Framework

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  85. @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TL
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TA
    Main responsibility &
    priority of SE
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TM
    Additional
    for LM
    Additional responsibility
    & priority of TM
    Tracks Levels Competencies
    1 2 3 4

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  86. @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks

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  87. @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks
    Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    Competencies

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  88. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM

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  89. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  90. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    1 2 3 4
    Levels

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  91. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  92. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  93. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  94. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  95. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  96. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  97. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  98. Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Tracks Competencies
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Levels
    1 2 3 4

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  99. @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TL
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TA
    Main responsibility &
    priority of SE
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TM
    Additional
    for LM
    Additional responsibility
    & priority of TM
    Tracks Levels Competencies
    1 2 3 4

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  100. View Slide

  101. @mseckington
    Delivering working
    software
    Tech direction &
    decision making
    Collaboration &
    team management
    Teaching, sharing
    & hiring
    Learning & self
    improvement
    People
    management
    Technical skills
    Analytical & forward
    thinking
    Initiative
    Technical depth
    Decisiveness
    Teamwork skills
    Team management
    Emotional Intelligence
    Curiosity
    Resilience & adaptability
    Communication
    Storytelling
    Leadership skills
    Management skills
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TA
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TM
    TA TL LM
    TL
    TM
    LM
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    SE
    TM
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TL
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TA
    Main responsibility &
    priority of SE
    Main responsibility &
    priority of TM
    Additional
    for LM
    Additional responsibility
    & priority of TM
    Tracks Levels Competencies
    1 2 3 4

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  102. @mseckington
    lessons
    Game
    DESIGN
    OF
    10

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  103. @mseckington
    1 Don’t overload new starters
    2 support & guide new starters
    3 make it clear what people should focus on
    4 give people direct & timely feedback
    5 provide space to reflect and learn from the past
    6 provide opportunities to apply new skills
    7 acknowledge people’s growth
    8 expose basic competencies and how they’re used
    9 allow people to choose their own path
    10 visualize what progression looks like

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  104. @mseckington
    create
    Developer
    Experiences

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  105. @mseckington
    Want to know when we open new roles?
    https://futurelearn.typeform.com/to/JfRJJA
    MELINDA SECKINGTON
    FUTURELEARN
    @mseckington

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