A team lead's pains — and how to rehearse them
No company news. Just the concrete management situations that get in the way of leading a team — with a case at the end of every article to rehearse the decision risk-free.
Toxic high performer: when firing is cheaper than fixing
A strong engineer carries the code but wrecks the team. Why a toxic high performer is sometimes cheaper to let go than to keep — and how to do it right.
Read the article →THE CASE THAT FIXES ITThe Weakest LinkMake the call in a real situation and see the consequences instantly — risk-free.
Play the case →You've been made a team lead: what to do in your first week
You've just been made a team lead and don't know where to start. Your first week as a lead: first 1-on-1s, team norms, trust, and the rookie mistakes to avoid.
ConflictConflict with the product manager: who makes the call
The PM pushes the deadline, you push for quality. How a team lead handles a conflict with the product manager, splits ownership and makes the call without a fight.
TeamYour key developer is quitting: what a team lead should do
Your strongest engineer hands in their notice. How a team lead runs the retention talk, assesses the bus factor and cuts the risk — without a blind counter-offer.
Letting goHow to let someone go with dignity
The decision to let someone go is made. How a team lead runs the termination conversation honestly and respectfully — no surprises, no blame, no burnout on either side.
FeedbackHow to give hard feedback without turning it into a fight
Why the honest conversation with an engineer stalls, and how a team lead can say the difficult thing so the person hears it instead of shutting down.
DelegationYou delegate, yet everything still lands on you
Why a team lead stays the main contributor even after delegating, and how to hand off work without losing quality or burning out.