Aren’t you going to miss writing code?
That was the question my skip-level asked me when I applied for an engineering leadership position.
I started writing code in the sixth grade. My teacher encouraged my parents to buy me a Commodore 64. At the time of the question, I had been writing code for 30+ years, 20 of which were as a professional software engineer.
As a result, the question didn’t really land. In fact, it actually sparked questions. Do they know my experience? Do they know my motivation? Do they know my career plans?
From that exchange, I learned a very valuable leadership lesson: Take the time to get to know your team.
Today, if asked about your team members’ experience, drive, and career plans, what would you write?
Here are some questions to start with —
Experience
– How long have they been in tech?
– What’s their Tech Hero’s Journey?
– What are their hobbies and interests outside of work?
Drive
– What do they enjoy about their role?
– What have they learned since joining your team?
– Do they feel like any of their skills are being underutilized? If so, which ones?
Career Plans
– What does ‘career development’ look like to them?
– What role do they see themselves in within the next [time frame]?
– Are there any areas of the company they’d like to learn more about?
Exceptional Leadership Practice:
Take the time to get to know your team members. When you do, your team feels valued, respected, and becomes more engaged, which greatly enhances your team’s overall performance.
You got this!
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The need for leadership development has never been more urgent. To thrive in today’s uncertain and complex global markets, organizations need to expand and strengthen their leadership skills because what worked in the past won’t drive future success.
I partner with engineering leaders who want to strengthen their self-awareness, increase their influence, lead people with confidence, and develop strategies for navigating complex situations and technology’s acceleration with clarity and integrity.
When you, or someone you know, would like to dive into exceptional leadership advising and mindset coaching, reach out for a complimentary strategy consultation.
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✨If you think no one cares about you, I do.