Software isn’t unlike a piece of classical music – each part doesn’t wholly make sense without the others – to the whole is much more than the sum of the parts. Certainly, the interface without the code is pretty to look at but not functional. The quality is not divorced from the function. The purpose is not removed from the market itself or the problem it attempts to address. All those moving parts need leadership in much the same way as an orchestra does. When each part of the team needs direction, and when it only plays a supporting role. A good technical leader is seeing the path forward and identifying roadblocks and congestion points. A good leader can troubleshoot and find solutions quickly and confidently. A good technical leader can guide your team, save you money and protect your interests.
The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership
It can’t be done – predicting, that is. You need data and real-life conversations and truly, time and experience and risk and all the rest. You can guess, and fantasize of course – but anything remotely reliable just isn’t. No matter how many spreadsheets and models and research you do … ask yourself how much … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
I hear it over and over again – “my sales staff isn’t making their numbers.” It is said as if they are on an island by themselves and failing no less. Salespeople are expected to have a gift and perform the mysterious task of selling the product. There’s nothing magical about sales – save for … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
A strong leader understands how all the parts fit together and has a dynamic understanding of how things move through the team, whose strengths are where and where another team member needs scaffolding. This strength can save you time and money. Anyone can hire someone to do as you tell them – take the time … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
Support. That’s the most important piece. Hands down. Very very few people do it well. I think that’s because 1) software developers don’t put themselves in the shoes of their users (or their managers, or their salespeople, or their support staff) and 2) everyone thinks too narrowly of “support.” Most people think support is a … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
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It can’t be done – predicting, that is. You need data and real-life conversations and truly, time and experience and risk and all the rest. You can guess, and fantasize of course – but anything remotely reliable just isn’t. No matter how many spreadsheets and models and research you do … ask yourself how much … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
I hear it over and over again – “my sales staff isn’t making their numbers.” It is said as if they are on an island by themselves and failing no less. Salespeople are expected to have a gift and perform the mysterious task of selling the product. There’s nothing magical about sales – save for … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
A strong leader understands how all the parts fit together and has a dynamic understanding of how things move through the team, whose strengths are where and where another team member needs scaffolding. This strength can save you time and money. Anyone can hire someone to do as you tell them – take the time … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →
Support. That’s the most important piece. Hands down. Very very few people do it well. I think that’s because 1) software developers don’t put themselves in the shoes of their users (or their managers, or their salespeople, or their support staff) and 2) everyone thinks too narrowly of “support.” Most people think support is a … Continue reading The orchestra conductor is essential: why skilled people can’t work together without leadership →