Book Review: Shipping Greatness by Chris Vander Mey

in #book26 days ago

As a seasoned software engineer and engineering leader, Chris Vander Mey brings his wealth of experience to bear in his latest book, "Shipping Greatness." The book is an insightful exploration into what it takes to build successful products and teams. It provides practical advice for leaders looking to create a culture of excellence within their organizations.

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Read Shipping Greatness by Chris Vander Mey


The content of "Shipping Greatness" is divided into three parts. In Part One, Vander Mey discusses the importance of building great teams and creating a strong company culture. He emphasizes the need for open communication, trust, and collaboration among team members. Vander Mey also shares strategies for managing conflict and fostering creativity.

Part Two focuses on product development and delivery. Here, Vander Mey offers tips for defining clear goals, prioritizing features, and measuring success. He stresses the value of iterative development and continuous improvement, encouraging leaders to embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

In Part Three, Vander Mey turns his attention to leadership. He discusses the traits of effective leaders and provides guidance on how to develop these qualities. Throughout this section, he emphasizes the importance of empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity.

One of the standout features of "Shipping Greatness" is its real-world examples. Vander Mey draws on his own experiences at companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as those of other industry leaders. These case studies provide valuable context and help illustrate key concepts.

Read Shipping Greatness by Chris Vander Mey


Takeaway Points:

  1. Building great teams requires open communication, trust, and collaboration. Encourage honest feedback and foster an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
  2. Prioritize ruthlessly when developing products. Focus on delivering core features quickly and iteratively, using customer feedback to drive improvements.
  3. Effective leaders exhibit empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity. They understand the needs of their team members and customers, admit mistakes, and lead with integrity.

Overall, "Shipping Greatness" is a must-read for anyone involved in product development or team management. Its practical insights and actionable advice make it a valuable resource for both new and experienced leaders alike. Highly recommended!

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Read Shipping Greatness by Chris Vander Mey