The five stages of losing our craft

Last Tuesday I was on a coaching call with an engineering manager. Let's call her Sarah (because that's her name). She was describing a situation I've now heard about forty times in the last twelve months. Her most senior developer, a guy with twelve years of experience and very strong opinions about YAML indentation (2 spaces, obviously, he's not a monster), had just refused to use Cursor. Not "tried it and didn't like it." Refused. On principle.

Andrew Murphy·2026-02-08·13 min read

Embrace the Suck

Nobody tells you this when you become a manager: the conversations that make you successful are the ones that make you want to crawl out of your own skin. It's not the high-fives and the "great job on that launch" Slack messages that prove your success. It's not the strategy sessions where everyone nods along to your brilliant insights that give the best impacts in your team. The conversations that TRULY matter? The ones that make a difference? They suck.

Andrew Murphy·2025-12-15·9 min read

Is your hiring process accidentally pushing away amazing neurodiverse engineers?

Let's be honest. Finding and keeping great engineers is tough. You know how much one brilliant engineer can change the game. But what if I told you that, without even realizing it, your own hiring process might be the biggest thing scaring off the exact people you want to hire?

Andrew Murphy·2025-05-18·11 min read

9 Management Habits Quietly Burning Out Your Best Engineers

Burnout in engineering teams is rarely caused by a single event. Instead, it’s the result of persistent, often overlooked management habits that quietly erode motivation, well-being, and performance. Here are 9 habits, why they matter, what happens if you ignore them, and actionable tips to build a healthier, more sustainable engineering culture.

Andrew Murphy·2025-05-05·6 min read

Why doing less makes you a better leader

Recently I've been speaking to a lot of new leaders, and a mistake I am seeing quite often is equating productivity with the number of tasks they complete, meetings they attend, and decisions they make. Many new leaders, particularly those transitioning from individual contributor roles, fall into the trap of trying to do everything themselves. This approach stems from good intentions—wanting to demonstrate value, support the team, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. However, this "more is better" mindset often leads to diminished leadership effectiveness, team underperformance, and personal burnout.

Andrew Murphy·2025-04-12·9 min read

From Code to Conversations: A New Engineering Managers' Guide to Influencing Non-Tech Individuals

Influence in leadership isn’t about bossing people around. It’s about getting everyone on the same page and working towards a common goal.

Andrew Murphy·2024-11-01·10 min read

How to conduct one-on-ones that actually Matter

Stepping into a leadership role in the tech industry can be as exciting as cracking a complex algorithm. Yet, with this transition comes the responsibility of managing a team and being responsible for outputs, productivity and, more importantly, their personal and professional growth. At the heart of all of this lies the art of conducting one-on-one meetings. The effectiveness of these personal interactions cannot be overemphasised as they provide the scaffolding for building strong relationships, unearthing concerns, and fostering growth.

Andrew Murphy·2024-10-18·12 min read

5 Productivity Tips for New Engineering Managers

Stepping into the shoes of an Engineering Manager, you're entering an entirely new ballpark. Scrap that, it's an entirely different sport! It’s not just about flexing your technical muscles anymore. Now, it's about steering your team smoothly towards scoring those goals while keeping everyone motivated and the vibes positive for everyone, including yourself. The quick switch to manager mode means you’ve got to catch on fast to meet the asks of your new gig and it can leave you with a sinking feeling as tasks pile up.

Andrew Murphy·2024-09-30·13 min read

7 tips for Engineering Managers who also have to write code now

In recent months, a concerning trend has begun to manifest across the engineering industry. Companies are increasingly choosing to compress the role of Engineering Manager into a primarily technical function - focussed more on writing code than building and supporting their team.

Andrew Murphy·2024-09-28·12 min read

7 Misconceptions about Tech Leadership

Entering into a leadership role within the tech industry is both an exciting and challenging experience. As a new tech lead or engineering manager, you are faced with a set of responsibilities that go beyond coding and technical oversight. While your technical skills have brought you this far, effective leadership demands an entirely different skill set, including core skills like communication, empathy, and team management. This article aims to debunk some of the common misconceptions new tech leaders often have, providing actionable insights to help you navigate the complex landscape of leadership.

Andrew Murphy·2024-09-28·18 min read