#11: From time-checking to trusting your team
Why managers shouldn't care about when you start and end your day
Hey friends,
First of all, sorry for numbering my last newsletter wrongly. It was number 10, not 9. Details…
In this edition, I talk about the following:
a story from my past and why managers should focus on output instead of time spent
penetration testing in Automotive
3 tweets I liked
a thread on Jeff Bezos’ leadership principles
the book “Launch”
1/ Focus on output and not on time spent
I have told this story before, so I apologize if you have already heard it.
My first job, when I was 20, involved going through some old scanned documents, taking data from those documents, and filling it in a database.
It was a private company that had some contracts with the government.
And like all companies that had contracts with the government at that time, it was run by an old ex-communist.
We were all working in one large open space, each at our own desks, with supervisors walking between the isles to make sure everyone was concentrating on their jobs.
You had to come in at 9 a.m. sharp and leave at 6 p.m. We had one hour for lunch and two 10-minute breaks.
You had to ask for permission to go to the toilet.
Every piece of data that you inputted into the database was considered an index. You had to have filled out X number of indexes each week.
I don’t remember the exact number; all I remember is that there was a public list of how everyone performed.
The top performers were celebrated, while the low performers were scorned.
I still remember that the interview was about typing words in software that would calculate how fast I typed. And that was it.
I didn’t care much about the job, I wanted to spend the summer in Bucharest and couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t had a job.
All was fine until one week when I was late for work two days in a row. I don’t remember the exact times, but it was less than 5 minutes each time.
Long story short, I was called into the CEO’s office and lectured about the importance of schedules and how a business is run by rules. Those cumulated 5 minutes meant the business was losing money and all that.
I left the old guy’s office promising him that I won’t be late again and promising myself that I would never work in a similar environment again.
I quit that job after one month.
Of course, I got my first job in tech 10 months later and I’ve been working in tech ever since.
What is strange for me, though, is that even after more than 15 years since that day, there are still managers who track when people in the team come and leave the office.
This is absurd, especially when we are talking about software engineers or other jobs that require thinking and creativity.
In today's rapidly evolving work landscape, the traditional approach of fixating on employees' clock-in and clock-out times seems increasingly out of touch. It's time to recognize that productivity and output should take precedence over strict adherence to rigid schedules.
When managers obsess over the hours their employees spend at their desks, they risk neglecting the bigger picture: achieving quality results.
Strict adherence to a rigid schedule disregards the diverse working styles and personal circumstances of individuals.
After all, it's not the quantity of time spent but the quality of work produced that truly matters.
Not to mention the fact that being at your desk is not equivalent to working. Some people might be watching cat videos on YouTube.
Another aspect to take into consideration is the ability to focus.
You will achieve a lot more in one hour of uninterrupted work than in three hours in which you check your phone for notifications every three minutes.
By shifting the focus from time monitoring to outcome evaluation, managers have an opportunity to foster a culture of trust within their teams. Constantly monitoring employees' schedules can erode trust and create a sense of surveillance, ultimately stifling creativity and reducing job satisfaction. Trusting employees to manage their own time allows them to take ownership of their work and empowers them to find a balance between personal responsibilities and professional commitments.
Embracing flexible work arrangements, such as alternative scheduling, not only accommodates individual needs but also encourages healthier work-life integration.
Research has consistently shown that flexible work environments lead to increased job satisfaction, reduced stress levels, and higher retention rates.
Overall, managers have a mission to redirect their attention from time to output, but it can only happen if organizations prioritize what truly matters: delivering quality results.
And this means implementing performance-based evaluation metrics and emphasizing goal attainment rather than clock-watching, which enables employees to focus on their strengths and work collaboratively towards shared objectives.
This shift in mindset encourages innovation, creative problem-solving, and a results-driven culture that breeds success.
By acknowledging that output and quality are more important than strict adherence to schedules, fostering trust, and embracing flexibility, we can create a workplace culture that nurtures productivity, innovation, and employee well-being.
Let's unlock the potential of our teams by valuing the meaningful contributions they make, regardless of the clock on the wall.
2/ The rise of Penetration testing
Security is becoming one of the most important aspects of information technology.
Personally, if I were to start over, or if I were someone who wants to get into tech, for sure I would go into Security.
Companies need to keep their systems protected from an ever-increasing number of attacks. That means more and more people are needed for this kind of job.
What is penetration testing, or pentesting? It’s a type of testing in which someone simulates the kind of attacks a hacker would employ on a system.
Every application that is facing the internet should go through this type of testing. Usually, it is performed over a number of days and it exposes some vulnerabilities in your app.
The tester then generates a report containing these found vulnerabilities, divided into several levels of criticality. The development team needs to solve them, based on these levels.
This is a short explanation, of course, as the process is a lot more complex.
What’s interesting is that because of the increasing complexity of the ECU (electronic control units) of the cars, these need to be pentested as well.
As someone who has worked in Automotive for more than 5 years, this type of testing was not something very common. But now it seems that the threats are getting real and companies need to consider this as a must.
Unfortunately, there is a high number of devices that need to be secure and a relatively limited number of pentesters who can provide service.
Which means:
pentests cost a lot
there is a demand in the market for engineers
You can read more about it in this article.
Again, if I were to start a tech career, I would either go with Security or with AI.
3/ Tweets I liked
3 tweets that made me think, educated me or amused me over the last week.
how leaders should think like farmers:
This hormone cheat sheet from my friend Andrew:
This thread on the history of photography:
4/ My own favorite piece of content: Jeff Bezos’ leadership principles
I wrote a thread this week about what we can learn from Bezos’ experience as the founder and CEO of Amazon.
Unfortunately, there are still some issues with the Twitter algorithm and my posts get little traction.
Or, maybe I should just start writing better :)
Nevertheless, I think everyone who leads teams and companies can learn something from his principles.
5/ Recommendation: The book “Launch” by Jeff Walker
I first read this book about 3-4 years ago and it was one of the reasons I started writing online and wanting to start a business.
As the title goes, Jeff Walker takes you through the steps involved in launching an online product.
His story is also quite interesting, from stay-at-home dad to millionaire, Jeff was one of the pioneers of online marketing, in the mid-90s.
What sets "Launch" apart from other marketing books is Walker's emphasis on building a strong relationship with your audience and delivering immense value. He stresses the importance of understanding your customers' needs and desires, and how to address them effectively during the launch process. By following the strategies outlined in this book, you'll learn how to create a launch that not only generates sales but also cultivates long-term customer loyalty.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to master the art of product launches. By implementing Jeff Walker's proven methods, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch your products successfully and build a thriving business in today's competitive digital landscape.
Oh, and remember this, anyone has the skills to start an online business. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to be one step ahead of your audience.
Start building!
Thank you for reading, and let me know if you liked something in particular in this newsletter.
Until next time,
Leo
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P.S. 2: If you want to take your Productivity to the next level, check out my extensive Productivity course that can accelerate your career.