I am a Software Engineer and I am in Charge
The book that helps increase your impact and satisfaction at work
"Hi, I'm Sandrine, a Senior Software Engineer in desperate need of help. You see, I left my old company because I wasn't getting ahead.
I thought the only way to move up in my career was to move out, so I took this new job to get the 'promotion' I was looking for.
But something's not right.
Despite the more senior role, everything still feels the same, I'm surrounded by people who don't seem to know what they're doing.
If only they'd change then I'd be able to get some real work done.
I'd feel like I was making a genuine contribution to our product for our customers and the community.
I'd finally feel like I was making an impact."
Does Sandrine's plight sound familiar?
Do you work with a manager that just wants to look good? You know, the one that drops that crazy product idea for you to implement; all so he can have bragging rights: "I thought of that!"
What about your colleague whose only team meeting contribution is to say a thing or two so she can be seen helping. Funny how you never see her leave with her name against any action items, EVER.
Oh and I bet you can name the guy who deep dives into every little technical detail, picking it apart, even though he won't be around when you're stuck maintaining it. Yeah, he's the one that completely misses the opportunity to be valuable at the high level – to be a true leader – guidance which you and your team so sorely need right now.
And of course, there is that colleague that just goes with the flow. Clock in at 9, clock out at 5. He doesn't necessarily get in your way, but he's not exactly adding a whole lot of value by improving your workflow either.
Well, what are you going to do about it?
I'm guessing the answer isn't "Increase my technical expertise" because you won't find the answer to solve a people problem on StackOverflow – trust me, I looked.
So, what are you going to do?
Hope they change?
Pray?
Make them?
What would happen if you changed?
What would you see? What could you do? How much impact could you have?
I am a Software Engineer and I am in Charge is a real-world, practical book that helps you increase your impact and satisfaction at work no matter who you work with.
Each of the 7 chapters has the following structure specifically designed to generate insight and move you to action:
Why it matters
A brief introduction to the chapter that offers questions for you to experiment with your current belief about the topic of the chapter.
For example, if you believe you can't ask a colleague you admire to be your mentor because you think they're too busy, then what could you do if you changed that belief?
What would you do if you thought that by not asking them you're denying them the opportunity to pass on their wisdom?
The story
A fictional story following the protagonist, Sandrine, who left her company to get a higher-level role and found that despite the "promotion" everything still feels the same, the people around her are clueless.
In each chapter, Sandrine learns something from the people she interacts with that gets her thinking in a new way enabling her to take a different course of action.
Sandrine is not perfect though, she makes slip-ups, promises to change but goes back to old habits, plans for things a certain way only to discover it doesn't play out that way—just like in real life.
What do we learn from the story
Here we talk about the lesson from the story, and ask you, the reader, what you will do with your new knowledge and insights.
The experiments
At the end of each chapter, there are 3 experiments for you to try. You can choose to do one or more of them to see what happens when you put yourself in Sandrine's shoes.
Follow Sandrine on her journey to see for yourself how she solved her problems and increased her impact and satisfaction and in the process find a way to increase yours.
By the end of the book you'll have learned:
- •How your words influence your actions
- •How to prosper from feedback
- •How to set goals that inspire
- •How to work with others to create a better solution
- •How to use failure as a data point to inform your learning
"Seeing the actions I could take when I looked at my situation differently is where my change began. Your change can begin by reading my story."
What Readers Say
"An indispensable book to someone who appreciates working in a team and contributes to its success and also being satisfied by the impact made at work. While not being a long read, I already feel the need of getting this regular 'shot' by reading again some chapters from time to time. Alexis and Michael know how to go straight to the point; to the essential and what the reader should remember."
"If you're an engineer and want to develop your career, this is a must-read. I've seen way too many engineers focusing on their technical expertise while what they would need to grow is their social skills. This book covers this aspect of your engineering career and what you need to understand and learn the ins and outs of being a senior engineer."
"Wow! For such a short book, I found it very useful. It mixes aspects of Stoicism and mindfulness with productivity, communication, and team development topics. The exercises, all detailed in part 2, look like they will be very useful in helping me adopt a positive mindset and be more productive and impactful at work."
"This book is a straightforward, thorough, and insightful door to leadership, personal growth, and constant self-evaluation. As someone that spends a lot of time reflecting and trying to understand other people's perspectives, I appreciated the emphasis and information this book puts on the argument."
"This book is great if you are progressing in your career as a software developer. I wish I had all this information at hand when I was starting as a lead engineer. The book is well structured with stories you will definitely recognise. It provides practical tools (as experiments) to try out yourself."
"Cuts-through with great clarity to deliver potent learnings via mini-stories. Being an avid reader, I go through lots of books. While most books meander through lots of content to deliver a single message, this lean book, on the other hand, conveys new learnings with every chapter! The format is simply brilliant!"
Get Your Copy
Join the Emerging Leadership Newsletter
Discover how to unlock leadership that grows from within organizations, where people take responsibility, collaborate across boundaries, and deliver real impact.
We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.