The First Time Manager

When working as an individual contributor (IC), becoming a technical manager can be a difficult transition. These books helped me build the skills (and confidence!) needed to become a good manager. My absolute favourite book on this topic is The Making of a Manager. It is an excellent introduction to the role and responsibilities of a manager; the book also focuses on the transition of IC to Manager. The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team is also a great introduction to team dynamics. I use the model described in the book with my new teams to build trust, commitment and accountability quickly. Finally, The Coaching Habit is, for me, an important book to learn the basics of coaching conversations and, specifically, efficient 1:1s.