Meena Venkataraman

🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.

You can find the link here - bit.ly/3MhNXiO

Real growth happens when we stay open, curious, and willing to unlearn outdated ways of thinking. The truth is, the more we think we know, the less room we leave for actual learning and growth.

It’s easy to rely on past habits and skills, but that can actually hold us back from adapting to new challenges.

I love this quote. It's particularly true during transitions. Whether you’re stepping into a new role, learning a new skill, or entering a different phase of life, one of the biggest barriers can be our own belief that we "already know."

Trust isn't Binary “I trust my team completely, so I don’t get involved in their decisions anymore.”

If you find yourself wondering what demonstrates trust, this week's edition of my newsletter is for you.

When working with clients, I've found that we often approach our professional journeys thinking about what we 'should' do next.

This lovely testimonial reminds me why I'm passionate about creating a space for deeper exploration.

If you would like this too, Drop me a message for a chat.

High-performing is confusing. It's genuinely hard working in a team - that's not a sign things are broken.
Think about friction. Too little and we slide. Too much and we grind to a halt. Teams need the right amount.
Stop comparing to imaginary perfect teams.
#engineeringleadership #teams

Let's talk about how we can work together to get you to the place you want to be. 👋

Taking on a new team as an engineering manager can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. Success isn't just about your growth - it's about how your whole team thrives.

If you're ready to make that transition with confidence, drop get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...

53% of managers are burning out right now. That's more than half. Burnout doesn't announce itself. It just quietly smashes the glass balls one by one. Work is part of life, not the other way round. #engineeringleadership #techlead #burnout

Is you do not want to miss out on my weekly insights on leadership subscribe to my newsletter.

Building Your Leadership Support Portfolio Earlier this week I spoke about having a ‘Support Portfolio’ for your leadership development.

Earlier this week I was speaking about the idea of having a support portfolio. But I find that many leaders over-rely on what's readily available rather than what they might actually need. Read more in my article

#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #NewManager

Link to my free guide - https://www.rfr.bz/l6045db

🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.

You can find the link in the comments.

#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips

My book reached readers in UK, US, India, Germany, Italy, Belgium & Australia! 🌍
For every engineering manager navigating late-night doubts, grief over lost coding flow & the messy transition nobody prepared you for.

Get your copy - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FY3H8J63

#EngineeringManagement #Leadership

Do you feel like your calendar owns you instead of the other way around? I created a free guide with 4 time-reclaiming strategies specifically for new EMs. They contain practical shifts you can make this week without feeling like you're letting your team down - bit.ly/3MhNXiO

Hard things don't get done by accident. If they keep slipping through the cracks, here's my tip: schedule based on energy, not just calendar gaps. I do hard thinking in the morning. By 3pm my brain is done with nuanced work. Your calendar might be efficient, but when do you do your best work?

Whats the alternative? Create safety for people on the fringes. Let them choose their participation level.

Research shows task orientation works better when teams first form.
These activities can be hard for neurodiverse folks or introverts. When I see shiny teambuilding photos, I wonder what we're not seeing.

Thoughts on teambuilding?

I've been to my fair share of teambuilding activities. Many are fun. Some are annoying. But forced teambuilding doesn't create better teams.
#leadership #teambuilding

Team culture gets built in small everyday moments. How you handle mistakes. Whether you take breaks. If you admit when you don't know something. Your team is watching.

Read my full article -https://meenavenkataraman.substack.com/p/when-your-team-watches-you-make-a

The illusion that trips up new engineering managers:
"I know the team. I know the tech. This will be seamless."
Then you discover the colleague who used to vent to you now filters everything through "what does my manager want to hear?" Familiarity doesn't remove the learning curve. It disguises it.

My favourite insight - "Practice does not make perfect. It is practice, followed by a night of sleep, that leads to perfection."
Stop treating sleep deprivation as a badge of honour. 📚💤

I spend weekends reading and today's recommendation - "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker.
One week of sleeping <7 hours? Your brain functions as if you've been awake 24 hours straight. Sleep-deprived people struggle with emotional regulation, creativity tanks, and work longer to accomplish less.

Are You Helping Them, Or Helping Yourself? Stepping back from technical work is hard.

When you step in to help your team, who are you really helping?

#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #NewManager

🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.

You can find the link in the comments.

#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips

✨ Imagine starting this week with clarity about your role instead of questioning whether you're doing this leadership thing right.

✨ Imagine leading this week from your natural strengths

This can be your reality if you want it to be - we should talk.

Get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...

When was the last time you asked your team for feedback on your leadership - not on the work, but on you?
Can't remember? You're not alone. You're already being evaluated. Every day. The question is whether you're brave enough to hear it.
Ready to lead openly? DM me. #EngineeringManager #Coaching

The Identity Vacuum I’ve written about professional identity before.

Happy Friday! I've written about professional identity before.
William Bridges in 'Transitions' explains it as, "Change is situational. Transition, on the other hand, is psychological."

If you're a new manager feeling lost, this week's newsletter is for you.
#EngineeringLeadership #NewManager

Meet Rocky - our robot vacuum. Not usually a gadget person, but waking up to clean floors while I sleep? This feels like a win. Sometimes it's the small things that free up space for what actually matters. #leadership #worklifebalance