Power, Focus, and Introverts - Tech Leadership Weekly, Issue 13
This content originally appeared in Tech Leadership Weekly, a weekly email newsletter to help you become a better technical manager.
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Cap Watkins
Management & Power
For many, management is an opportunity to accumulate power, specifically, the power to insure the the doers of work are doing it right. Flipping the corporate triangle (CEO at the top, makers at the bottom), provides a healthier view of a manager’s role, which is to support those doing the work. Being an effective manager isn’t about accruing power, but rather shifting your old power into the hands of those on your team. This allows space for your new power: hiring great people and enabling them do great work.
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Raffi Krikorian
“What does a VP of Engineering do, again?”
What does an effective VP of Engineering focus on? Primarily three areas: establishing focus, leading and designing the engineering organization, and representing engineering at the leadership level. Providing focus for the team, both on what and what not to work on, aligns the team behind the business’s goals and objectives. A VPE needs to lead, manage, and coach. They need ensure the team can move efficiently, and continue to be effective as the team grows in size and the software in complexity. Finally, the VPE represents the engineering team at the executive level, aligning team goals to company goals, and ensuring the perspective of the team is heard.
Reading Time: 8 minutes
Rands
Introverts as Leaders (Briefly)
Introverts tend to be good at listening, observing, and gathering information. Listening results in good situational awareness, which is amplified by an introvert’s natural desire to avoid interpersonal conflict. The key for an introvert in a leadership position, is to leverage their listening and awareness, while ignoring the instinct to hide from conflict.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Originally published at Ramblings on Software and Life.
