#2 | Sunday reads for EMs
My favourite reads of the week to make your Sunday a little more inspiring.
đ Hey, itâs Stephane. This is a new series in which every Sunday I share with you my favourite reads of the week. To accelerate your growth see: 50 Notion Templates | The EMâs Field Guide | CodeCrafters | Get Hired as an EM | 1:1 Coaching
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The 25 Micro-Habits of High-Impact Managers
tl;dr: Great managers arenât defined by big decisions, theyâre shaped by small, consistent habits. This mega-list includes tactics like sharing personal lows to build trust, saying âI trust you, make the callâ, and following up religiously. Itâs a tactical cheat sheet for anyone looking to lead with empathy, vulnerability, and clarity.
AI coding assistants arenât really making devs feel more productive
tl;dr: Despite the hype, only 6% of engineering leaders report major productivity gains from AI coding tools. Most current AI applications focus on code generation, missing key workflow bottlenecks like testing and deployment. Involve developers in AI adoption decisions, and focus on real pain points, not just using flashy tools.
Diagnose Before You Delegate
tl;dr: Wardley Maps and Pace Layering are strategic tools that help tech leaders align architecture decisions with business needs. Wardley Maps visualize component maturity; Pace Layering shows how parts of the system evolve at different speeds. Use these to prioritize investments, justify tech bets, and communicate clearly with stakeholders.
Expert Generalists
tl;dr: âExpert Generalistsâ thrive by combining curiosity, collaboration, and cross-domain fluency. They spot patterns, adapt fast, and bridge communication gaps between teams. With AI reshaping tech roles, this blend of broad and deep skillsets is increasingly valuable. The post argues for formally recognizing, hiring, and training for this hybrid capability.
How to build a team that can âtake a punchâ
tl;dr: Hilary Gridley shares a behavioral playbook for building resilient teams. Teach people to âtake a punchâ by embracing setbacks as learning moments. Use âmagic questionsâ and counter negative perceptions with small, visible wins. Focus on active recovery, radical transparency, and aligning with leadership vision. Youâre not the hero - your job is to brilliantly support the mission.
Writing Toy Software Is A Joy
tl;dr: Building toy projects, like your own regex engine, emulator, or compiler, reminds you why software is fun. These low-stakes projects teach deep system insights and often lead to surprising on-the-job benefits. The author shares a curated list of toy projects, with difficulty ratings and learning goals, to rekindle your coding joy.
Most popular from last Sunday
9 Questions to Ask When You Start to Notice Underperformance
What did you read recently that you would like to share?