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Famous Michael Lopp Quotes

“The Leads of Leads are switch hitters. Their day is equal parts tactics and strategy. While they have developed true distance from the day-to-day work, they still know how the work is done and can have an informed opinion about tactics relative to the work. They also have a more complete picture of the state of the company, which enables them to make better decisions and define better strategy. They see the complete game board. They see all the pieces, so they can be credible strategists.”

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Book:Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
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“The Lead is tactical, but is showing the first glimmers of strategy. They are beginning to understand the power of delegation, and they are still wrestling with the idea that they have authority. What is familiar to them is the work and the types of people doing the work. When a situation arises relative to these areas, The Lead acts authoritatively and quickly because they understand deeply.”

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Book:Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
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“The Director’s primary focus is outward. The Director’s job is to figure out how the company fits into and interacts with the rest of the world. Yes, the Director is often the face of the company, but, more important, they are the interface between the company and the world. They are the curator of the vision, because they understand the game board is really just one game board sitting in a world of infinite game boards. Ideally, they are purely strategic. It’s likely they are strong tactically, but they lead with compelling strategy, not efficient tactics. In my experience, Directors tend to be viewed as being a little nuts, and explaining why is one of the reasons I wanted to write this piece. See, pure strategy doesn’t look or feel anything like raw tactics.”

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Book:Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
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