I began my career as a developer, where building websites for clients and learning development best practices were my primary responsibilities. As I became a team leader and manager, I quickly learned that my job now had a very different set of objectives, priorities, and keys to success. Instead of solving technical problems with code, the most important parts of my days became addressing more ambiguous "people problems" and coaching my team members toward growth.
This session will cover how I shifted from a front-end development role into management, and the lessons I've learned that can help other developers thinking of making a similar move. I'll detail how delegation was my biggest struggle and greatest help, the importance of clear communication and expectations, and how to support my team while building their skills, not just my own. I'll also touch on the differences in feedback loops between development and management problem-solving, along with how to stay technical while spending less time directly working on code.
About the Speaker
Kurt Trowbridge
Front-End Development Team Leader at Gravity Works Design + Development
Lansing, MI
Kurt turns complex ideas into websites that are enjoyable, informative, and efficient to use. He enjoys collaborating with clients to explore ideas, as well as building the interfaces to meet their goals. Kurt enjoys combining previous experience with fresh ideas to find new, useful solutions. His attention to detail and responsiveness makes him a favorite among clients. Kurt is also an avid music enthusiast, having played trombone in two international concert tours.
