The Caring Techie Newsletter

The Caring Techie Newsletter focuses on leadership, communication, and personal development within the tech industry, drawing on the author's experiences at major tech companies and startups. It covers topics like emotional intelligence, networking, burnout prevention, effective disagreement, and the transition to managerial roles, offering strategies for professional growth and well-being.

Leadership Development Communication Skills Personal Development Networking and Social Capital Career Growth and Transition Burnout Prevention Emotional Intelligence Mentorship and Coaching Conflict Management Self-improvement

The hottest Substack posts of The Caring Techie Newsletter

And their main takeaways

8 guaranteed ways to annoy your senior engineer

21 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering Software Product Management Team Dynamics Workplace culture
  1. Always provide details when asking engineers to fix something. It saves everyone time if you describe what’s wrong and what you've tried.
  2. Avoid labeling everything as urgent. This makes it hard for engineers to prioritize and can lead to burnout.
  3. Be clear and prepared for meetings. Vague invites waste time and make it hard for engineers to focus on their work.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Self-Assessments

21 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Career Advice Performance reviews Self-assessment Professional development
  1. Don't assume your manager knows everything you've done. Always remind them of your achievements to help them evaluate your performance.
  2. Be specific when describing your work. Instead of using vague statements, share exact numbers and outcomes to show your real impact.
  3. Keep track of your accomplishments throughout the year. This makes it easier to write your self-assessment and ensures you don't forget important contributions.

Announcing: Re-launching "Impact through Influence"

9 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering Leadership Influence Education Career growth
  1. The course 'Impact through Influence' focuses on helping tech professionals build their influence without needing formal authority. It's great for engineers who want to lead and motivate their teams.
  2. Participants will learn how to build their reputation, foster trust, and persuade others effectively. The course includes practical exercises to apply what you learn in real situations.
  3. This re-launch includes new features like hands-on exercises and cheat sheets for every module. It's designed to make the content more accessible and directly applicable to everyday challenges.

Setting yourself up for success in 2025

25 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Career development Personal Growth Productivity Coaching Goal setting
  1. Being intentional about your actions is key to success. Instead of just reacting to life, create what you want by setting clear goals.
  2. To gain clarity on your goals, reflect on what excites you and what drains you. Identify your core life pillars to measure your growth.
  3. Protecting your focus is essential. Avoid distractions with tools like vision boards and time management systems to stay aligned with your intentions.

The unexpected benefits of gratitude and what I'm grateful for this year

18 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Growth Emotional resilience Self-care Mindfulness
  1. Gratitude makes you feel happier and calmer because it triggers positive chemicals in your brain. It's like having a joy switch you can turn on by focusing on the good things in your life.
  2. Practicing gratitude helps you build resilience by shifting your focus to what is working instead of what is missing. This can help you face tough times with a better attitude.
  3. Making gratitude a regular habit allows you to notice and appreciate the little things more often. Just asking yourself what you’re thankful for each day can strengthen your gratitude skills.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Why "bias for action" is not good enough

11 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Project management Leadership Decision-making Risk management
  1. Having a 'bias for action' can be good, but it's not always the right approach. Sometimes, acting without enough thought can lead to bigger problems.
  2. In situations where you don't fully understand the problem, it might be better to wait and gather more information before jumping to conclusions.
  3. Instead of rushing into decisions, take a moment to think things through. Thoughtful action can help you make better choices.

The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast Interview + other updates

6 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Career Podcasts Education
  1. The host shared insights from a podcast interview about how Google operates and tips for getting promoted in big tech. It's a great resource if you're trying to grow your career in tech.
  2. They recently gave a keynote speech at a conference in Germany, discussing how to lead teams effectively even when resources are limited. Public speaking can be a powerful way to share knowledge.
  3. A yearly survey is open for subscribers to provide feedback and potentially win cash prizes. It's a fun way to help shape the content and direction of the newsletter.

If your network is your net worth, this is how you get rich

22 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
💼 Business Networking Career development Mentorship Work Relationships
  1. Building strong networks is about investing social capital through kindness and goodwill.
  2. Creating an environment where people feel safe to ask questions and where they feel heard and acknowledged is crucial for fostering connections.
  3. Anticipating and meeting others' needs, offering help, and sharing knowledge are valuable ways to build social capital and support others in various settings.

Why influence without authority is a vital skill for anyone

27 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Career growth Team Dynamics Organizational Behavior
  1. Influence without authority is a vital skill for everyone, from individual contributors to senior management.
  2. To get things done efficiently, you need to master the art of influencing without authority.
  3. Influencing without authority is essential for achieving career growth, turning ideas into reality, and building valuable relationships.

250→22k Subscribers in One Year: How I Started & Grew "The Caring Techie"

19 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Writing Newsletter Growth Challenges
  1. Starting a newsletter can be challenging but rewarding; focus on providing valuable content to grow your audience.
  2. Choosing the right platform, name, target audience, and content pillars are crucial for a successful newsletter launch.
  3. Improving writing skills involves seeking feedback, reading relevant books, establishing a writing process, and consistently putting out content.

7 questions to help you be a better writer

27 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🚌 Education Writing
  1. Clarify your main goal before writing to ensure clarity and focus.
  2. Identify your target audience to tailor your content to their needs.
  3. Make your writing clear, respectful, and impactful to engage the reader effectively.

Why building an authentic personal brand matters more than you think

12 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
💼 Business Personal Branding Career growth Leadership Communication Professional development
  1. Your personal brand is what people know you for, and it's important for career growth and opportunities.
  2. Debunk common myths about personal branding like it being only for selling or less competent individuals.
  3. Having a solid personal brand can help you stand out at work, build trust with stakeholders, and expand your influence.

So you want to be a Manager - Part 1: Are you sure?

9 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Management Career development Leadership Tech industry Workplace culture
  1. Transitioning from individual contributor to engineering manager requires deep reflection and research.
  2. Engineering management involves leading and coordinating engineering activities, but it's not as easy as it may seem on paper.
  3. Successful engineering managers need a different skill set than individual contributors, including strong people skills and patience.

(Re)Introducing myself + Elpha AMA + Something special...

6 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Career Leadership Management Tech skills Coaching
  1. Irina has had a diverse career journey from software engineer to tech lead to manager at big tech companies like Google and Uber.
  2. Coaching became a passion for Irina after realizing the joy of helping her team find their own solutions.
  3. Big tech companies have more structured and hierarchical leadership styles, while startups lean towards entrepreneurial and hands-on leadership.

Burnout in Tech - Part 1: Declaring War

10 implied HN points • 04 May 21
  1. People working in Tech can face burnout despite the perks of the job.
  2. Burnout is expensive for both individuals and organizations, impacting productivity and well-being.
  3. Recognizing, addressing, and preventing burnout is a collective effort that requires both leadership and employee involvement.

What is Psychological Safety and why you should care

3 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Workplace well-being Employee engagement Brain function Business impact
  1. Psychological safety is crucial in the workplace to allow employees to speak up without fear of punishment or humiliation.
  2. Creating a psychologically safe environment leads to higher performance, innovation, and employee retention.
  3. Businesses benefit from psychological safety through improved team performance, employee engagement, and overall well-being.

How I overcome self-doubt and impostor syndrome by using my confidence portfolio

2 HN points • 28 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-doubt Impostor syndrome Confidence Public Speaking Personal Development
  1. Facing daunting tasks like public speaking requires finding a balance between calming nerves and getting excited.
  2. Breathing exercises can be helpful for calming down before taking on a challenging task.
  3. Creating a confidence portfolio can serve as a personal secret to boost confidence in various situations.

How to disagree at work without rubbing people the wrong way

2 HN points • 31 May 23
🚌 Education Communication Conflict resolution Career Advancement
  1. Mastering the art of disagreement without conflicts requires courage, diplomacy, compassion, and trial and error.
  2. Learning to disagree can be a competitive advantage in advancing your career.
  3. Using the dos and don'ts presented in the article can significantly increase the chances of getting what you want while maintaining positive relationships.

How to create and promote Psychological Safety at work

2 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychological safety Leadership Communication Inclusivity
  1. Psychological safety is crucial for a healthy work environment, where individuals feel free to voice ideas, questions, and concerns without fear of punishment.
  2. Creating psychological safety is a shared responsibility between leaders and employees, with leaders modeling behaviors and reframing challenges as learning opportunities.
  3. To foster psychological safety, individuals can embrace curiosity, cancel blame, focus on collaborative problem-solving, and ensure everyone feels heard and valued.

Burnout in Tech - Part 2: The internal causes of burnout

5 implied HN points • 14 May 21
  1. Recognize and address internal causes of burnout to prevent it from reappearing.
  2. Internal causes of burnout are within our control and can be changed through effort and support.
  3. Traits and behaviors contributing to burnout can create vicious cycles, but acknowledging the problem is the first step to solving it.

To be a better coach, learn this one skill

4 implied HN points • 03 Aug 21
  1. Unconditional positive regard is essential for fostering trust and growth in coaching relationships.
  2. Applying unconditional positive regard in the workplace can lead to open communication and positive team dynamics.
  3. While unconditional positive regard is powerful, it may not guarantee change and termination might be necessary in some cases.