The Software Engineer's Guidebook

CHAPTER 7

GETTING THINGS DONE

As an engineering manager, I always knew which engineers on my team “got things done,” and did so reliably. These colleagues were good at breaking down work, realistic in their estimates, autonomous in unblocking themselves, and delivered quality work. When an important project came up, I ensured at least one of these engineers was on the project team.

Building a reputation for getting things done is helpful in several ways.

You will be given more impactful and challenging projects, which will accelerate your learning. You will almost always get more autonomy, as your manager views you as reliable and not in need of “hand-holding.” And your career will likely progress faster with a strong track record ...