12/23/24 - The Ghost Engineers of Christmas Past, Present, and Future
I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of "ghost engineers" lately—those engineering ICs who seem busy but contribute little meaningful work. It’s a fascinating and (mostly) frustrating idea, and I think we’re missing the bigger picture, primarily because engineering output (as flawed as the measure is) is easier to track than elsewhere in the engineering hierarchy.
What about "phantom managers"? These are leaders who look incredibly busy, run countless meetings, and send endless Slack messages but don’t actually drive impact. Unlike ghost engineers, phantom managers can disrupt an entire team’s output by wasting time and energy.
I’ve caught myself slipping into this trap before—weeks where I feel busy but know I didn’t really move the needle. It’s a humbling realization, and it’s forced me to reflect deeply on how I spend my time and what outcomes I’m driving. But how many leaders are doing this kind of self-assessment?
As we approach a new year, maybe it’s time to focus less on engineering metrics and more on evaluating management effectiveness. Are your managers empowering their teams, or are they just creating noise? Are they creating environments where their teams can thrive, or are they stifling innovation and ownership? Are you yourself preventing managers from achieving those outcomes?
Before pointing fingers at "ghost engineers," let’s hold a mirror up to our leadership practices. Are we modeling what effective management looks like, or are we just as guilty of hiding behind busyness?
Anyway, on with the helpful links! As always, if you have questions about engineering leadership or your engineering journey in general, ask me here or at askhartley.com. Next episode will be out on New Year’s Day, but you can check out the latest below:
🤖 AI, Decision-Making & Future Trends
The Future of AI
MIT’s comprehensive exploration of AI's societal impacts is essential for leaders considering how AI will shape their teams and strategies in the coming years.
The AI Trap
Mike Fisher warns of common pitfalls in AI adoption, urging leaders to focus on meaningful value rather than chasing trends. A must-read for balancing innovation with practicality.
🛠️ Developer Experience & Team Dynamics
Measuring Developer Experience Benchmarks
Will Larson shares a framework for evaluating and improving developer experience with real-world benchmarks. Perfect for leaders looking to drive incremental, data-backed improvements.
Communication Structures in a Growing Organization
Jessica Kerr dives into how communication evolves as teams scale, offering actionable insights to prevent silos and foster collaboration in growing organizations.
🌟 Leadership & Decision-Making
Tenets for Faster Decision-Making
A concise guide to making decisions more efficiently without sacrificing quality. Use these principles to speed up execution while maintaining alignment.
Read the Room
Rich Mironov reflects on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, especially when navigating high-stakes conversations and organizational shifts.
🔮 Emerging Tech & Long-Term Impact
2024 in Review
A thoughtful retrospective on 2024’s most impactful trends in tech and leadership, with lessons you can apply to prepare for 2025.
Deloitte’s Tech Trends 2024
Stay ahead of the curve with Deloitte’s take on emerging technologies, from generative AI to sustainable innovation strategies.
📚 Big Ideas in Software Engineering
Rewilding Software Engineering
A fascinating perspective on breaking free from rigid processes and rediscovering creativity in software engineering. Great for sparking innovation in your teams.
The Psychology of Remote Work
A research-backed exploration of how remote work impacts team dynamics and individual productivity. Essential for leaders managing distributed teams.
Scaling Excellence
This video offers practical advice on scaling teams and organizations without compromising culture. A great watch for leaders at any stage of growth.
I hope your holidays are restful and enjoyable. Here’s to an excellent 2025.
👉 Have a favorite resource or question? Reply below share your thoughts and insights.