Differentiated Management: Build Stronger Teams
A workshop-style course for engineering leaders who want every individual to grow, contribute, and deliver—by tailoring what work looks like, how it’s done, and what success means based on readiness, interests, and experience of every team member.
Who should attend
- Engineering managers and directors elevating team performance
- Tech leads responsible for mentorship and skill development
- People-ops partners embedded with R&D teams
- Scrum masters or PMs focused on team dynamics
You will be able to
- Diagnose readiness and growth zones for each team member
- Adapt content, process, & product to fit strengths and stretch areas
- Coach with confidence using practical, role-played scenarios
- Build psychological safety that encourages risk-taking & learning
- Scale practices across squads with lightweight, repeatable tools
What you’ll learn
1) Diagnosing Individual Needs
- Assess readiness & learning preferences
- Find motivators; set growth-aligned goals
2) Tailoring Content, Process & Products
- Match task complexity to skill level
- Design stretch opportunities that build confidence
3) Interactive Skill Practice
- Role-plays for feedback & coaching
- Group exercises to co-create workflows
4) Psychological Safety
- Norms that encourage curiosity & candor
- Peer coaching and shared problem-solving
5) Embedding Differentiation
- Integrate into sprint planning and retros
- Scale practices across multiple teams
Course modules
Delivery options
Live Workshop
Half-day or full-day, highly interactive. Ideal for intact teams and new managers.
Virtual Cohort
Three × 2-hour sessions with reflection and practice in between.
Self-Paced
Video lessons, worksheets, and facilitation guides for on-demand learning.
Delivered at
Selected conferences and professional communities
Conference Highlights
- STAR Canada 2019 — Core framework, hands-on exercises
- STAR West 2019 — Differentiation for distributed teams
- STAR West 2020 — Virtual cohort adaptation & playbooks
Community Sessions (NYC)
- Local software testing conferences — interactive labs
- Meetups & user groups — live coaching scenarios
Also delivered at additional professional meetups and in-house leadership programs.
Frequently asked
Is this only for engineering teams?
No. While examples are drawn from software, the framework adapts to data, product, QA, and cross-functional teams.
Do participants need management experience?
It helps, but it isn’t required. New managers and senior ICs (tech leads) gain practical tools immediately.
Can we tailor the workshop to our org?
Yes—discovery and customization are available to match your processes, tooling, and maturity.
Ready to see differentiated management in action?
Let’s design the right path for your team, then practice it together.