Excellent Series on Management

Prior to my new assignment of Senior Application Architect, I was a Software Development Manager. I loved that job and I took it quite seriously. Having been recently hired into a tumultuous environment where upper and middle management was changing every 2 months (I was unaware of this phenomena until AFTER I was hired), I found myself with a relatively new and dysfunctional team. I struggled for a bit, trying to get them to come together as a unit, but I discovered a series of books written by Patrick Lencioni that helped a great deal.

These books may seem too simple at first. As a manager, you are faced with complex problems. A simple parable with simple lessons could not possibly hold the answers to your unique and difficult situation. The lessons learned in these books are not new and they are quite simple. Most important, they are effective.

Anyway, I recommend them for a read.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Death By Meeting
The Five Temptations of a CEO

He has others, but I have yet to read them.

I will be concentrating more on technology and less on people as my new role demands. I do hope someday (soon) I will be able to put my focus on people once again. Perhaps I will find an employer who truly values people and recognizes that it is through leadership, not management, that the best results are achieved.