I've been self-employed as a consultant for years, but wish to give it up for a salaryman job. Because I have nearly twenty years of experience, I was recently offered a position as a Team Lead - also known as a Technical Lead - and have been applying for software management jobs as well.
Team Leadership is halfway between being a software engineer and a manager; one provides technical leadership to a team of software engineers, for example putting better development methodologies in place as well as mentoring the engineers to help them improve their skills and advance in their careers. Someone else, who may not be an engineer at all, provides the personnel and financial management.
But I don't have much experience as a manager. I think my best bet is to purchase and read some good management books. I want to read one particular book very first thing, but I cannot recall its title or author. Perhaps you can help:
The book is specifically aimed at software engineers who just got promoted to management positions - folks just like what I expect to be. Thus the language is couched in terms familiar to any software engineer, but it points out what one needs to do differently as a manager than what one did as a software engineer.
It introduces all the kinds of skills a new manager will need to perform their work. I didn't spend much time skimming the book when I found it in a store a while back, but I expect it would including project management, hiring, discipline, performance reviews and (God help me!) firing incompetent engineers, budgeting and so on.
I'm going to visit the bookstore where I originally found this tomorrow, so I might find it by browsing the shelves, but if not I want to order it online. I can't do that if I don't know the title and author.
If you know what the book is called, either post your response in your diary or email me at hotcoder@gmail.com I will be eternally in your debt.
I did search for it at the ACCU Book Reviews page, but couldn't find it. I don't know whether it hasn't been reviewed or if it's review just doesn't describe it as a management introduction for ex-software engineers.
In any case, I welcome your recommendations for other introductory management books. Entering "managing" or "management" in the book review search form turned up many excellent books which I will read eventually, but which books should I read first? Try the searches yourself:
- Managing
- Management
- I'll throw in methodology just for grins
You can assume I know how to architect software, but I'm not so clueful as to how to lead others to carry out my architectural plans.
I am grateful for any help you can give me.
Looking For A Senior Software Engineer Or Technical Lead?
Then there's not much time to waste, as I have already been offered a position! But I may not actually take it. Please have a look at:
- My Resume
- My Cover Letter
- Email me at hotcoder@gmail.com
Thank you for your consideration.