Overcoming Bias

Managing toxic employees and atmospheres

This article discusses the problem of hiring false positives and false negatives, and the actions taken to address two toxic employees. In the first case, swift and constructive feedback was given, and the employee was eventually let go. In the second case, the employee was talented but slow, and it was necessary to let them go in order to unblock other employees and the organization. The lesson learned is to listen to gut feelings and act swiftly when an environment feels toxic, even if it means taking on legal risk.

Pay Equity Improves Your Company’s Performance

This company implemented a pay equity policy to address discrepancies in salary setting due to unconscious bias. After a year of implementation, all engineers and managers at the same level were paid identically. The policy was well-received internally and externally, and helped to attract more people to the company due to its commitment to equity and inclusion.

Delivering Brutal Feedback

A security consultant was hired despite having been fired from a top security program. He was difficult to manage due to poor interpersonal communication, time management, and hygiene. After giving him direct, honest feedback and explaining the importance of client relationships, he was able to avoid making mistakes and eventually became a successful security consultant. The lesson learned is that each employee is an individual and can be redeemed if the right approach is taken.

Making Product Decisions Based on One Large Customer

A large customer represented 40% of a company's revenue, but their wishlist was not necessarily reflective of what other customers wanted. The company took steps to prioritize development based on wide customer research, requiring courage and communication with the large customer. This experience taught the company that listening to the one large customer can skew their view of what the general customer wants, and that it takes courage and communication to prioritize development in a way that is beneficial to the growth of the company.

How to manage the ego of a rockstar developer

A rockstar developer was exhibiting negative behavior in the team, such as not listening to other team members and being aggressive when defending his point of view. After investigating the root cause of his behavior, it was discovered that he felt unappreciated and needed to show everyone that he was the smartest person in the room. The manager took action by having a difficult conversation with him, praising him publicly and privately, and pushing for a reevaluation of his compensation. This simple solution was highly effective in fixing the problem.

The State of Women in Tech

This article discusses the lack of women in the tech industry and the barriers that keep them out. It suggests that companies need to create more female-friendly environments, provide improved working incentives, and encourage young girls to pursue computer science. Additionally, it highlights the fact that women-led tech startups receive 16 times less funding than those led by men. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to break down the institutional barriers that keep women out of the tech industry.