Lead an Engineering Team for the First Time

Hold a real 1:1 with each direct report

2 weeks (30–60 min per direct report)

Run your first team retrospective

1–4 weeks from joining the team (schedule within the first month)

Give your first piece of difficult feedback

Whenever the situation arises — do not wait; most new managers delay by months and the situation always gets worse

Write and ship a team charter together

4–8 weeks from joining the team (run the session async or sync across 1–2 meetings)

Navigate your first real team conflict

Whenever a real conflict arises — if no conflict has arisen, the more likely explanation is that people do not feel safe disagreeing

Deliver a real project through the team

8–16 weeks depending on project scope — this is the capstone; it takes as long as a real project