Leadership
14 entries
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From vibe to spec
The methodologies fighting for attention such as vibe coding, spec-driven development, structured prompt-driven development, keep getting framed as rival camps. In fact, they're stages of one pipeline, and the real leverage is in the transition point between them.
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How I Beat Stage Fright (and Accidentally Cured My Fear of Small Talk)
How a socially awkward introvert became a confident public speaker — through practice, not talent. Four techniques that actually work: rehearse until the script disappears, present one slide ahead, leave space for the day, and video yourself.
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From Drift to Drive: Helping Teams Move Towards Strategic Outcomes
Teams rarely drift because they're lazy. They drift because no one's holding the map up anymore.
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Stretch, Don't Hide: Ambition, Empathy and AI
AI expands what we can attempt — but that speed can trigger Dunning-Kruger overconfidence. The fix is curiosity over proof: show your working, ask what surprised you, and let cross-discipline experiments build empathy instead of ego.
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Quiet Debt: The Hidden Cost of Ignoring the Small Stuff
Most of us are familiar with the classic definition of technical debt: the shortcuts, workarounds, and legacy code that get us out of a jam…
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What's on Your Team's Plate?
Why quick fixes feel good, but lasting health takes patience
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The Case for Slow Thinking in Engineering Teams
Engineering teams rush to close decisions and the fastest voice usually wins. The seven-second rule, System 1 vs System 2 thinking, and why slow deliberation paired with fast AI is a more powerful combination than either alone.
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The Power of Emergence: Why Leaders Shouldn't Prescribe Every Solution
Prescribing solutions feels efficient but suppresses the unexpected ideas that matter most. A before-and-after flood image UI that emerged from a misunderstanding shows why leaders should frame outcomes, protect slack time, and get out of the way.
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The 2000 Year-old Engineering Manager
What if the best advice for engineering managers was written 2,000 years ago? A talk on leadership, stoicism, and staying calm under pressure.
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The Agile Coach I Am
A talk given to the whole of Deputy in Sydney when I moved from Delivery Manager to Agile Coach. Not a Scrum sermon — a sketch of how I draw from a variety of disciplines to help teams find their rhythm.
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Being the Nice Guy with the Bad News
How to deliver meaningful, honest feedback when you are known as the nice guy — the tension between being liked and being useful, and how to navigate it.
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16 Rules to Help Your Meetup Run More Smoothly
Sixteen practical rules for running a successful meetup, drawn from years of organising SydCSS — from AV prep and food choices to managing no-shows and keeping presenters on time.
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Calm above the water, and paddling like hell underneath
A personal account of overcoming a lifelong fear of public speaking — from hiding under a slide in the rain at age 12 to presenting at Respond 2014 in Sydney. On the years of small steps, SydCSS, and what it actually takes to walk to the front of the room.
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Getting over my fear of public speaking
Another step in overcoming my fear of public speaking: a presentation about making a PhoneGap app, built as a New Year's resolution.