Shows / Developer Tea
Developer Tea
Developer Tea exists to help driven developers connect to their ultimate purpose and excel at their work so that they can positively impact the people they influence. With over 17 million downloads to date, Developer Tea is a short podcast hosted by Jonathan Cutrell, engineering leader with over 15 years of industry experience. We hope you'll take the topics from this podcast and continue the conversation, either online or in person with your peers. Email: developertea@gmail.com
Episodes
- Developer Tea
Using Core Tools and Activities for Grounded Productivity
If you feel like everything is spinning around you and it's difficult to remain productive, you aren't alone. In this episode we talk about core tools and…
- Developer Tea
Productivity, But Only On Paper
Productivity measurements often show nothing of value at all. Today we'll discuss how complexity (or "story") points may actually show exactly the opposite of…
- Developer Tea
The Only Productivity Discussion Worth Having
Productivity is meaningless without a goal, and no activity is banned from being considered productive. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Instabug…
- Developer Tea
Make Room to Expect the Exceptions
On the whole, exceptions are not exceptional. Each one may be unpredictable or rare, but they happen very regularly. How are you prepared to handle those…
- Developer Tea
You Need Better Inputs to improve Your Options
The quality of your options is determined by the quality of your inputs. If your decisions have no good options, consider what the source of those options is…
- Developer Tea
Tradeoffs Of Control Optimized To Serve Your Goals
The background noise in today's episode wasn't just a mistake, it was a choice. A tradeoff. Tradeoffs represent a decision of control and energy. You will make…
- Developer Tea
Scheduling Time To Go The Extra Mile
What was the last time you prepared for a meeting? I'm not talking about the times when you were forced to prepare. I mean, when was the last time you put…
- Developer Tea
Premortems for Personal Goals
Premortems aren't just a tool for teams launching projects. You can use these for your personal goals as well. What are the things most likely to stop you from…
- Developer Tea
Compare, Carefully
Comparison is a powerful tool that humans are exceedingly good at wielding. However, as with any powerful tool, it can easily be misused to damaging effect. 🙏…
- Developer Tea
Busting False Coupling and Finding Positive Negotiation Positions
In this episode, we'll discuss the importance of breaking false ties in a negotiation scenario. This happens more often than we realize, and the best way to do…
- Developer Tea
Making Space for Intuition in Decision-making
Decision-making shouldn't just be about algorithms. It also shouldn't be just about intuition. Incorporating both is required to make the best decisions for…
- Developer Tea
Blueprint for Better Intermediate Decisionmaking
Most decisions that are worth considering longer than a moment fall into the category of "intermediate decisions" we discuss in today's episode. These…
- Developer Tea
Finding Perspective On Purpose - Make it Visible, Make it Clear
In today's episode we talk about finding perspective and purpose through the lens of two principles and one bonus exercise. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you…
- Developer Tea
The Principle of Isolation
In today's episode, we discuss the principle of isolation. We use isolation in decisionmaking regularly! Now, let's learn how to harness it. You can only…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager - Reiterate and Reflect for Better Communication
Communication is hard. Like most things, we try to oversimplify it by turning "understanding" into a black and white, binary state. Communication and…
- Developer Tea
Ambiguous Target Decisions and Noise
In today's episode we discuss two types of decision evaluations, and a brief explanation of noise in decisionmaking. You're making judgment calls every day -…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager - The Assumption of Motivation
We all have some kind of motivation. But in error, we assume we know the motivations of others, and we also assume that our future selves will act in alignment…
- Developer Tea
The Big Picture Pyramid
How do you keep the big picture in mind while also executing on the details? In today's episode we talk about the three-part pyramid that represents the big…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager - Two Questions to Find Guidance If You Don't Have A Manager
What should I do if I don't have a manager? There's a lot of answers to this question, but the first route I want to suggest is to find someone who can provide…
- Developer Tea
Swizec Teller and the Senior Engineering Mindset, Part Two
In today's episode, we talk with Swizec Teller, senior engineer at Tia. Swizec created SeniorMindset.com, discuss the differentiators and mindset shift when…
- Developer Tea
Swizec Teller and the Senior Engineering Mindset, Part One
In today's episode, we talk with Swizec Teller, senior engineer at Tia. Swizec created SeniorMindset.com, discuss the differentiators and mindset shift when…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager - One-On-One Frameworks: Focus and Fears
What does a good 1-on-1 look like? We'll answer this in many different ways. For today's episode, I want to share a micro-framework for you to try out in your…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager - Investing in a Healthier Manager-to-Report Relationship
What should I look for in a healthy relationship with my manager? In this episode we talk about a variety of signals that you can expect if you have the right…
- Developer Tea
Better Report, Better Manager Series: Calibration Conversation - 3 Questions to Ask Your Manager ASAP
In this episode we are kicking off a series called "Better Report, Better Manager" - in this series, we'll discuss how you can improve your relationship with…
- Developer Tea
No More Status Meetings - A Forcing Function For Better Team Information Flow
Your status meetings are an old holdover from less useful business practices. Do away with status meetings, and instead get to the core of your discussion…
- Developer Tea
Two Principles To Improve Your Software Design Decisions
In today's episode we discuss two principles that will help you make better software design decisions. Talk about these principles and how they apply with your…
- Developer Tea
Clearly Define What Your Toolset Can't Do
Defining what your tools, teams, processes, and even you yourself are good at is hard, and often we stray past the boundaries of focus that would keep us…
- Developer Tea
When Sense-making and Statistics Collide
Our ability to make sense out of things is powerful. When we hear "90% of the way there", our brain fills in the gaps and often stretches that to mean…
- Developer Tea
Opportunities of Convergence and the Cost of Divergence
Opportunity comes in moments of convergence. Loss is measured in divergence. Pay attention to what is converging now - this is how you take advantage of…
- Developer Tea
Viewing Teams Through the Lens of Trust
Everything we do in our teams is based on trust. Trust, however, is a limited resource. We should spend it wisely. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by…
- Developer Tea
3 Habits For Your First 30 Days As A New Engineer On A Team (Corrected Audio)
You're a new engineer - what should you start doing in your first 30 days? In this episode, we talk about 3 behaviors you might be resisting, but that you…
- Developer Tea
Your Media, Your Message
In the mid 20th century, Marshall Mcluhan brought philosophy into the spotlight with his claim that the "medium is the message." We discuss the meaningfulness…
- Developer Tea
Two Shifts to Change Our Working Mindset from Static to Dynamic
The world around us isn't static, but our brain processes as if it is. In this episode we talk about subtle shifts to help break that mold for the most…
- Developer Tea
Taking Advantage of Uniquely Human Capabilities
In today's episode, we discuss the fact that intuition isn't all that bad to use when estimating... we just shouldn't use it to estimate a number. Taking…
- Developer Tea
Seek Context to Offset Prediction Errors
When we have context, we predict more accurately. When we translate numbers into more meaningful concepts, we create context where previously things were…
- Developer Tea
Excessive Cohesion - When We Fill In Gaps to Make Things Make Sense
In today's episode we talk about a concept called excessive cohesion - when our brains fill in the gaps when information is missing. This is an important…
- Developer Tea
Some of My Productivity Mechanisms
Increasing clarity informs perspective. Changing perspective often brings new clarity. When we manage our work through effective process, we are seeking…
- Developer Tea
Assimilating Advice - Dealing with Information Overload
How do you consolidate all of the advice you receive? More importantly, how can you put it into practice day in and day out? We'll talk about two strategies…
- Developer Tea
Help, I'm Blocked! Four Common Root Causes for Developers Getting Blocked
Why are you getting blocked every sprint? Find the root cause. In this episode, we discuss 4 common root causes for engineers getting blocked. Which ones do…
- Developer Tea
Julian Gutman, CPO at Patreon, Part Two
We continue our discussion with Julian Gutman about community and culture in today's episode. 📮 Ask a Question If you enjoyed this episode and would like me to…
- Developer Tea
Julian Gutman, CPO at Patreon, Part One
Today, Julian Gutman, Chief Product Officer at Patreon, joins us to discuss community, culture, and buy-in. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: cord cord…
- Developer Tea
Purpose Oriented Resolutions, Part Two, and 7 Years of Developer Tea!
First off, thank you for an incredible 7 years! Our listeners and sponsors make it possible to do this show, and I'm incredibly grateful for every one of you…
- Developer Tea
Developing Purpose Oriented Resolutions
In today's episode, we discuss purpose-oriented resolutions. We'll discuss an exercise you can use to help drive this development process. We'll also continue…
- Developer Tea
Your Only Challenge Is To Focus
If you can't focus, you are paralyzed. Everything you do in your career and life will be served better with clear and continuous focus. We revisit this topic…
- Developer Tea
Taking Back Ownership Over Your Priorities
It's hard to remember sometimes, but our priorities are our own. We have agency over our time. Even our obligations are more often determined by our chosen…
- Developer Tea
3 Cognitive Pitfalls of Mental Models
Mental models are very useful, and we tap into them even without knowing it. But just like any cognitive tool, our brain can play tricks on us when using…
- Developer Tea
Using Proactive Decision Tools To Reduce Reactive Decision Error
Make your decisions easier by anticipating them. Determine systems for making decisions in advance, so you don't get caught making them on the spot. Determine…
- Developer Tea
Two Perspective-Sharpening Tools For Your New Year's Resolution Making
In today's episode, we'll talk about two ways to improve your perception and perspective when making your new year's resolutions, or any other big decisions or…
- Developer Tea
Two Tools for Improving Your Closest Relationships
In today's episode, we discuss two tools that I believe will change your closest relationships forever. It can be awkward to intentionally work on…
- Developer Tea
Welcome Back Interview with Ernie Miller, Head of Engineering at Monograph, Part One (Fixed Audio)
We had some gremlins in the audio processing of the first part of the interview with Ernie Miller. They've been banished! Sorry about the trouble, and thank…
- Developer Tea
Input Quadrant - A Tool for Better Retrospectives
We have an illusion of control when things go our way, and a bias to shift the blame when things don't go our way. In retrospectives, we also believe we know…
- Developer Tea
Welcome Back Interview with Ernie Miller, Head of Engineering at Monograph, Part Two
Today I talk with Ernie Miller. Ernie is the head of engineering at Monograph. (They are hiring!) This is the second part of my interview with Ernie. We talk…
- Developer Tea
Welcome Back Interview with Ernie Miller, Head of Engineering at Monograph, Part One
Today I talk with Ernie Miller. Ernie is the head of engineering at Monograph. (They are hiring!) We talk about the four-day work week, fragility of culture…
- Developer Tea
The Focus IS the Work
The focus is the work. When anyone asks how they can be more productive, I give them the exercise I talk about in this episode. It's extremely simple, but not…
- Developer Tea
Dealing with Inevitable But Unpredictable Events
Bugs are inevitable, but individually unpredictable. Trying to use a single strategy for dealing with these events will miss a huge number of the events, while…
- Developer Tea
Think in Composition
Most things are compositions of other things. Most problems are multi-factorial. Most opportunities have more than one selling point. Sometimes, it helps to…
- Developer Tea
Substitute Better Questions
Substitute with better questions, and you'll have more insightful answers. Questions are a major contributing factor to behavior, and the way you ask questions…
- Developer Tea
Focusing On Fundamentals Is Not Repetition, It is Refinement
Focusing on fundamentals may seem boring, or like a sports catchphrase used to motivate people to practice. The truth is, these fundamentals are still going to…
- Developer Tea
Metamodeling and Steering Systems for Self Improvement
Metamodeling is creating a model of models. Confused yet? When we use models, we often assume they are complete. But what characteristics could make all of our…
- Developer Tea
When Pressure Turns To Poison
Stress often comes from pressure. When we experience pressure, we usually respond by trying to relieve it - often to the detriment of our work. In today's…