leader

Discover the secrets to identifying, recruiting, and retaining high-agency individuals for your leadership team. Learn the key traits to watch for, the right interview questions to ask, and how to create an environment that attracts top talent.

Leadership in engineering isn’t static—it evolves as you grow, your teams expand, and the organizational stakes rise. Understanding the different stages of engineering leadership is crucial. What makes you successful as a leader in the beginning of your journey might hold you back as you progress. To truly thrive, you must adapt, learn, and let go of old habits to embrace new challenges.

In this post, we’ll explore the three stages of engineering leadership:

1. Leading a Small, Autonomous Team
2. Collaborating with Other Teams
3. Leading an Organization

We’ll also dive into the skills required at each stage, the common pitfalls, and the mindset shifts needed to excel. Whether you’re just starting out or already leading at the organizational level, understanding these stages will help you navigate your leadership journey more effectively.

Making decisions is an integral part of life, yet many find it challenging. However, the ability to be decisive is a valuable skill that can be developed and honed over time. Today, I present the leader’s guide to help us becoming more decisive. In this guide, we will explore strategies to help you become more decisive in your personal and professional life as a leader of your team.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed in high-pressure situations, struggling to make decisions amidst chaos? Stress management is a critical skill for leaders, especially in today’s world where unexpected challenges seem to be the norm. In this episode, we’ll delve into an effective framework called ‘Prioritize and Execute,’ a strategy borrowed from ex-military leaders turned business consultants, Jocko Willink and Laith Babin. This framework can help leaders like you stay calm, make well-informed decisions, and efficiently navigate complex and stressful situations. So, whether you’re managing a team or an entire organisation, read on to discover how ‘Prioritize and Execute’ can be your secret weapon in the world of stress management for leaders.

In the realm of management, a pivotal moment arrived when I took the reins for the first time. With a significant project ahead, we initiated a kick-off meeting, setting the stage for what lay ahead.

As the meeting unfolded, schedules were discussed, decisions were reached, and responsibilities were delegated. The project manager led the proceedings, and I found myself responding to the majority of queries. It all seemed to flow smoothly—a testament to my leadership, or so I thought. Little did I know that I was about to encounter a transformative lesson.

In the aftermath, a one-on-one conversation with my superior unfolded. “What could you have done better in that kick-off meeting?” he inquired. A question that prompted me to reevaluate my approach.

Caught between wanting to support my team and unintentionally suppressing their growth, I began to unravel the concept of the HIPPO effect—an idea that was about to reshape my perspective on leadership. I learned about HIPPO leadership.