Month: June 2021

June 5, 2021

Greg Thomas

Your Peer Leader

We all have one, someone, in some part of the company, organization, department, team that keeps us in play. When things go wrong, they jump into help. When things go right, they are there to make sure we get our due credit. When things blow up in our face, they encourage us to go on. When we need a moment, they find it and give it to us. When it’s time to move on, they make sure we do. When you’re not challenging yourself, they make sure you start. And you do all the same for them. You are each

June 4, 2021

Greg Thomas

Have Need Want for Requirements

On a new project, it’s easy to get rolled over by the tsunami of requests and requirements coming your way. Priority is becomes a game of “what isn’t a 1”? A simple way to approach this with your team is to start with three buckets; Have, Need, Want. Any requirement discussed has to go into one of those buckets, there is no fourth bucket. Each bucket is represented as follows; Have – we can’t go out the door or show previews to our customers without these features. Need – These are very important if not there, it won’t be great.

June 3, 2021

Greg Thomas

Manager Estimates

Manager’s don’t estimate workloads. They challenge the estimate, playing devil’s advocate, poking holes where they see them, but they do so with the goal of helping the developer get better at the task in being more precise. They don’t do it to knock them down or crunch their numbers furthers. There is no mythical person month that makes work go faster. If you want it done right, you put in the time and you get it done. They insulate failure for their team that are providing the estimate. If your Manager is estimating your work for you, chances are the

June 2, 2021

Greg Thomas

Questions? Comments? Criticisms?

Years ago (too many) I had a professor that would end every lecture with… Questions? Comments? Criticisms? Every lecture. The class was not over until this was said. I have found myself saying it now when at a project or working with a customer. Questions – Did I skip over anything? Need anything else explained? Comments – Could I be doing something better? Criticisms – What am I messing up that I need to get better at? Simple and to the point.

June 1, 2021

Greg Thomas

What it Feels Like Leading a Team

If you are doing it right, this is what it feels like. It seems unpleasant, but it really isn’t, it’s tricky at first but as you get rolling you’ll get better and better. At the beginning, you are pulled in every different way as you try to find your focus, routine and delivery schedule that lines up with what your team needs to grow and deliver. The hard part is committing to giving it your all and not letting go when things look bad.

© 2025 Rambli by Greg Thomas. All rights reserved.