The Engineering Team Playbook
The reading path
From kickoff to the clubhouse
Football gives the series a shared language, not a script. Each chapter stands on its own, but reading in order follows a team from first conversations to the habits that keep it working together.
Build the Team Before the Plan
A practical way to build trust, understand individual strengths, and agree how an engineering team will work before delivery pressure exposes the gaps.
Read chapter 8 min read
Workstream Leads Need the Ball
How to turn workstream leads into a leadership team with real decision rights, resources, and a clear route for decisions they cannot make alone.
Read chapter 8 min readThe Dirty Laundry Meeting
A practical weekly blocker review that turns early concerns into owned actions without creating a culture of blame.
Read chapter 8 min read
Stay Close Without Taking the Ball
How technical leaders can stay involved, coach judgment, and support decisive action while keeping decisions with the people doing the work.
Read chapter 8 min read
Read the Game Before the Scoreboard
How engineering leaders can notice emerging friction, communicate uncertainty early, and give the people affected time to respond.
Read chapter 7 min read
Hackathons Build Teammates
A practical approach to hackathons that helps people across engineering teams learn, collaborate, and keep working together after the demos.
Read chapter 8 min read