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.

Transcript

1. LEVEL Developing Developers UP @mseckington
2. @mseckington
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8. @mseckington Technical Manager at FutureLearn
9. @mseckington Our Technology Team Strategy: Growing our own software engineers
10. @mseckington internal Developer experience
11. @mseckington Understanding Motivations, Emotions and behaviours
12. @mseckington game User experience
13. @mseckington lessons Game DESIGN OF 10
14. @mseckington STARTING A NEW GAME A B Learning a New skill C Leveling up
15. @mseckington STARTING A NEW GAME A
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22. @mseckington Lesson 1: Don’t overload new starters
23. @mseckington Onboarding checklist
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30. @mseckington https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end-ps4/
31. @mseckington Lesson 2: Support & guide new starters
32. @mseckington Provide a mentor
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35. @mseckington Lesson 3: Make it clear what people should focus on
36. @mseckington Goal setting
37. @mseckington Tie in with Bigger picture career goals
38. @mseckington Share with Team members
39. @mseckington B Learning New skills
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43. @mseckington Lesson 4: Give people direct & timely feedback
44. @mseckington Encourage Direct & timely Feedback
45. @mseckington Difficult conversations
46. @mseckington Thanks for The feedback
47. Image from: https://www.destructoid.com/opinion-why-overwatch-lost-my-interest-380341.phtml @mseckington
48. @mseckington Lesson 4: Provide space to reflect and learn from the past
49. @mseckington Self reflection
50. @mseckington 360 feedback
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53. @mseckington Lesson 6: Provide opportunities to apply new skills
54. @mseckington Identify Training
55. @mseckington Learning Events
56. @mseckington Talks we love Learning hours Architecture club Front end catchup Conference club Leadership study group
57. @mseckington Book clubs & course clubs
58. @mseckington C Leveling up
59. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1
60. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1
61. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1
62. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1
63. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1
64. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1 Level up!
65. @mseckington Strength Defence Magic 3 2 5 Melinda: Level 1 to Level 2 Level up! +1 3 2 6
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68. @mseckington Lesson 7: Acknowledge people’s growth
69. @mseckington Regular Salary reviews
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71. @mseckington Lesson 8: Expose basic competencies and how they’re used
72. @mseckington Competencies & roles
73. @mseckington Curiosity Communication Technical Skills TeamWork Skills Initiative
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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79. @mseckington Lesson 9: Allow people to choose their own path
80. @mseckington Generalise Or specialise
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83. @mseckington Lesson 10: Visualize what progression looks like
84. @mseckington Career Progression Framework
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
86. @mseckington Delivering working software Tech direction & decision making Collaboration & team management Teaching, sharing & hiring Learning & self improvement People management Tracks
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
102. @mseckington lessons Game DESIGN OF 10
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
104. @mseckington create Developer Experiences
105. @mseckington Want to know when we open new roles? https://futurelearn.typeform.com/to/JfRJJA MELINDA SECKINGTON FUTURELEARN @mseckington