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Coaching Junior Developers
Retrospective Anti-Patterns
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The shouting match: retrospective anti-patterns
"Well, I think we should definitely prioritise the deployment pipeline issues—"
Sep 24
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Phoenix Zerin
August 2025
Task forces
When critical deliverables grind to a halt, most project leads reach for familiar tools: more status meetings, tighter deadlines, and additional…
Aug 27
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Phoenix Zerin
1
July 2025
The Glue Trap
Getting stuck on technical tasks? Not getting the support you need from your teammates? Feeling tempted to pick up some documentation or coordination…
Jul 23
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Phoenix Zerin
3
June 2025
Estimates that build trust (not stress)
Developers hate estimates, yet we keep getting asked to create them. This should tell us something important — estimates are valuable, just not for the…
Jun 22
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Phoenix Zerin
3
September 2023
Introvert networking
Unfortunately for us introverts, talking to people is still the best way to advance one's career. But that doesn't mean that you can't be a successful…
Sep 18, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
August 2023
The two-year rule
Junior developers are not fated to leave your organisation within two years. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that their learning and…
Aug 29, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
1
The blame game: retrospective anti-patterns
We all know that we’re not supposed to blame individuals during retrospectives, but…you know…sometimes when bad things happen there’s clearly someone at…
Aug 7, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
1
July 2023
Siren songs
If you want to get positive ROI from your junior developers within 18-24 months, teach them skills. If you want to do it within 3 months or less, teach…
Jul 18, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
2
June 2023
Cross-contamination
Having worked with students and junior developers for the better part of a decade now, I find myself fascinated by just how much developers depend on…
Jun 26, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
1
Praising with faint damnation
It seems that the humble code review evolved when nobody was looking — and now we’re all struggling to catch up, whether we realise it or not. Thanks to…
Jun 5, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
1
May 2023
Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast
When I was first learning how to ride a motorcycle, I was so nervous about stalling the bike that I would try to execute gear changes as quickly as…
May 15, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
2
The group therapy session: retrospective anti-patterns
“At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective.” Sound familiar?
May 5, 2023
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Phoenix Zerin
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