Talent Development Books for Software  Leaders

In Pragmatic Thinking & Learning, you’ll be introduced to the Dreyfus Model for skill acquisition which can help you assess your engineers across competency areas and skill levels. From these assessments, you can develop a learning and development plan to grow their skills.

In my experience, applying the Dreyfus Model to a competency rubric or growth framework is the best way to foster intentional conversation around individual growth.

First, Break All the Rules changed the way I assess engineering candidates during interviews. I frequently refer back to this book as I try to understand the unique talents of each person on my team.

Range examines the tremendous benefits of breadth in knowledge and skill. In other words, the benefits of being a generalist even in the face of an increasingly specialized world.

The concepts and examples of Range resonated with me in part because I see how:

1. Generalists can apply knowledge from one domain to another, which is the definition of creativity
2. A broad range of skills can reduce dependencies, thereby increasing resilience and ability to deliver end-to-end

Great book and easy to read.

In terms of skill acquisition, Flow examines what types of activities and environments foster deep learning.