My role
In my early days in the company, things were simple.
I was told “learn these things and do these tasks” and I understood what was happening and life was easy.
But one learns to swim in the deep.
Soon after, new colleagues joined. With even more interesting challenges and in close proximity to each other, we became friends and began to exchange experiences. I even tried to explain some things to them, prompted by a bachelor’s degree in pedagogy. After my colleagues got involved in projects, my role changed. I became responsible for a small team of people. And according to folk wisdom, with more people and projects comes administrative responsibility: training, knowledge-sharing initiatives, peer development plans, annual evaluation, and more.
Lately, things have become even more interesting. We are getting stronger, we are growing and my gaze is shifting from the code to the people. And this is inevitable. With more and more new fronts and the challenges of the current situation, read here “work from home”, my role is changing again. In the last years, in addition to developing architectural solutions, I have also helped in areas such as searching for people, conducting interviews, negotiating with clients, building a distinct corporate culture, and others. The future will show how my role will change, but one name is whispered in the shadows: Technical Group Manager.
The experience
Experiences happen every day. Most form a sea of emotions scattered on the waves of weekdays. But others are remembered and you smile when it comes down to them.
One of these first things was the question: And where will I sit if I join the company? It was frightening to question something so prosaic. I admit I had no idea, but I threw myself headfirst. And from there many, many experiences and lessons.
I learned how to travel on my first business trip at two hundred and eighty kilometers per hour. The reason? We were in a hurry to start the working day in the outsourced office, and we didn’t have coffee. It was an experience that gets you fully awake!
I was able to partner with a colleague so closely that one was the head, the other – the hands when writing code. Why again? I didn’t see anything for a week, and we had a deadline.
I figured out what it’s like to run a demo that doesn’t go according to plan at all, but ultimately leads to a great product that helps thousands of people in hospitals. Now I am so proud of what I have achieved.
At the same time, the certificates and awards were only increasing in numbers and we needed a bigger wall. And then an even bigger one. That’s why I helped move three offices.
And I led the dance of many cheerful team building.
But there is another aspect to the experience. One who showed me what it takes to be “above the bar.” And that’s always been on my mind.
I remember one of the bigger clients and the formation of a whole team. The company has professionals of such a level that it has influenced the overall concept of what they know and can do. Moreover, I have witnessed a real shift in how we manage projects. From simply hiring or expanding a team, to form a whole one. Definitely with more responsibility for the final product and so many other external factors.
And after participating in this, I wondered if there was more? Oh yeah!
I was also in some strategic meetings to determine the future of the company. Obviously, there are obligations if you are awarded as MVP (MOST VALUABLE PERSON) of the year.
And so there it is. The experiences now are as many as the children who were born and raised alongside me in the company. And priceless.
The lessons
During these years, my goal was to learn more. And I succeeded. But with mistakes, a lot of effort, and successes came some valuable lessons. The most important thing is to know yourself and your capabilities. Of course, and those of colleagues. So together you can move forward and succeed.
I love light literally and figuratively. Therefore, customers should not be left in the dark when it comes to information. Even if you are about to create the most wonderful thing, if you keep your clients in the dark, you create false expectations, faulty communication or even tension accumulates!
Requirements management is a process, but also an art. And you have to, you really have to have a well-structured one. Because flexibility is valuable, but it can be excessive.
The software has no value by itself but must solve a problem. And to solve it efficiently, while it is composed of many reusable pieces, and to fit them, preparation is required.
There will always be stress. Worries too. But the best way to avoid them is to manage them by educating yourself about them. And if you follow your path, then there are no dramas.
Goals and ambitions
From the first day, I decided for myself that the number one goal for me would be to help the development of the company.
My second personal goal has not changed since then. To be proficient at what I do and the people around me to be happy. There is nothing more valuable than helping and seeing the effect, satisfaction, and smile on the faces of others.
And, yes, one such thing is to rejoice every day that you have a great job and do what you like.
But a man is never alone. And he should always tidy up his little hut well.
That is why a common ambition we have with our colleagues is not to increase our team, but to expand our family. And everyone to be able to contribute with their unique abilities.
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