Becoming a Better Software Developer: A Handbook on Personal Performance
This is an excellent general framework for upping your game in software development within the context of a decent sized software engineering organization. I've stumbled my way into much of this advice over the past 2-3 years.<p>One caveat is that much of the advice is predicated on having a supportive environment.<p>For Example, 
> Application development is a team sport. Period. Full stop.<p>What if you work in an environment where people primarily work on their own? I have done a lot of that in the past.<p>> For many, the best way to learn is to teach.<p>What if there aren't feasible opportunities to teach or your management pushes a pace that makes it not plausible?<p>> Create side projects<p>There are managers that support the idea of doing side project but not the execution.<p>I'm sure you can find more examples of suggestions that aren't plausible in your environment.<p>Here is my answer to these examples, I wasn't just complaining. If you don't have opportunities to fulfill sections of this framework that you feel you are lacking in, do it anyway.  If your manager tells you not to spend time learning and improving ignore them. Do it anyway.<p>You might say, "that's fine for you Mr. internet commenter, but I'm the one that has to take the risk". Well, that's true but I've already done it. Here were my results.<p>Did exactly what my management asked me to do for two straight years. All reviews for two years were "Meets expectations" with a long list of things I should improve.<p>One year ago, I read a book with an abhorrent title but good information "stealing the corner office"<p>I stopped listening to what my manager told me to do and instead I picked up random side projects with little to no perceived business value for my team, spent 10x more time reading code and made commits in projects I shouldn't be working on, and started spending a lot more time understanding basic fundamentals of software engineering.<p>Have had "exceeds expectations" on every review since and glowing praise.<p>It's counter-intuitive but, don't give the people what they ask for, give them what they want!<p>Note: I got a bit carried away on this comment, I should have mentioned that in reality I spend 10 - 20 % of my time working rogue, and the rest of my time doing what my boss tells me.