Year: 2023

Avoid Blind Spots as a Leader

As a tech executive, it is crucial to avoid blind spots concerning your employees. Staying aware of performance and motivations can be challenging, especially for those skilled, ambitious, and eager to please. Blind spots can arise when you rely on individuals who excel at their tasks and consistently deliver results. In your presence, they might appear to be the most respectful and intelligent people you’d encounter. Yet, among peers, this individual may transform into a different persona: a condescending jerk who fosters negativity in the workplace. No one wants to be on a team with them, but no one speaks up because they notice how much you like and favor that person. You may have promoted this high performer based on satisfaction with their work, inadvertently sending the wrong message to your staff. As a result, more team members might start mimicking this behavior, thinking it’s the way to get ahead. But actually, the person beside you is a significant obstacle to team morale, behaving like a cancer that erodes team spirit and collaboration.

To avoid blind spots, cultivate open communication and feedback in your team.

Encourage your employees to share their thoughts and concerns, whether positive or negative. As a leader, you should also be open to receiving constructive criticism from your team members. This will help uncover blind spots and foster trust and transparency within the team.

It’s vital to engage with all team members regularly, not just high achievers. This will give you a better understanding of each individual’s personality and behavior in different situations. It will also let you address any worrying behaviors or attitudes before they spread.

Another way to avoid blind spots is by seeking outside perspectives.

Consider bringing in an external consultant or advisor who can provide unbiased feedback on your team dynamics and individual performance. This can help uncover any hidden biases in your team that may cause blind spots.

Be fair to your team members.

The key lesson is to cultivate an open mind and treat all members of your team with fairness and respect. Strive for equality in assigning tasks, ensuring that everyone has opportunities for growth and development. While standout individuals are inevitable, take the time to genuinely know each team member and avoid overt favoritism. An effective method is to use your top performers as mentors, promoting a harmonious team dynamic. By embracing this mentoring mentality, you can nurture a more comprehensive and fulfilled team overall.

As a leader, maintaining a certain level of professional distance with your team members is essential.

Building trust through personal connections is valuable but beware of favoritism to prevent disrupting team dynamics and causing resentment. By understanding these dynamics, you can effectively lead your team, creating a positive and productive work environment for all.

In conclusion, it’s vital to be mindful of blind spots and work to reduce them for a positive, productive work environment. Foster open communication, engage with team members, and welcome outside perspectives to prevent negative behaviors and ensure overall team success. As a leader, it’s your job to foster a safe, inclusive environment for your employees to thrive. So, stay alert and address any blind spots that may arise before they become a bigger issue.

Click here for a post on how to deal with negative feedback.

Book: The 48 Laws of Power – Tech Executive Power

I was reading the book, “The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.” And although this is a really good book that a budding tech exec needs to read, I’m also saddened by it.

The book presents a very realistic view of how power operates in the world, and it’s not always pretty. It talks about strategies and tactics that people use to gain and maintain power, often at the expense of others. As a reader, you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable or even disturbed by some of the examples given in the book. But that is precisely why this book is so important for anyone looking to succeed in their career, whether in tech or any other industry.

A key lesson from the 48 Laws: Power dynamics affect our personal and professional lives, whether we acknowledge them or not.

By understanding these dynamics and learning how to navigate them effectively, we can become more successful and influential individuals.

But beyond the practical lessons, this book also sparks important conversations about ethics and morality in the pursuit of power. It challenges readers to reflect on their own values and intentions when seeking power, and to consider the impact their actions may have on others. In that sense, it serves as a cautionary tale for those who might be tempted to manipulate or exploit others for personal gain.

In today’s highly competitive tech industry, books like “The 48 Laws of Power” offer valuable insights for handling complex dynamics with mindfulness and ethics. This book underscores the importance for executives to master these 48 laws to achieve success. Although some techniques, such as manipulating a fellow leader to diminish their influence, may seem unpalatable, they shed light on strategies that effective leaders employ.

To climb the ladder of a successful tech executive, understanding these principles is crucial.

While these methods have demonstrated their efficacy, it is not necessary to apply them precisely as illustrated in the historical examples. Instead, adaptability is essential.

The reality is that many leaders ascend to their positions by wielding power effectively. These techniques can be ruthless, posing challenges for inexperienced leaders to implement. However, even if you choose not to use them, awareness of their existence can help you avoid potential pitfalls.

In summary, as we strive for success, let’s not forget to also consider the impact of our actions and decisions on those around us. In the end, true power is not just about having control or influence, but about using it responsibly and with integrity. So, if you haven’t already picked up “The 48 Laws of Power,” I highly recommend adding it to your reading list. You may find yourself feeling uncomfortable at times, but ultimately you will gain a deeper understanding of power dynamics and how they shape our world. And armed with that knowledge, you can make more informed choices in your own pursuit of success in the tech industry (and beyond).

Click here for a post on finding your leadership style.

Employee Appreciation Day?

As a tech executive, it is important to recognize and appreciate the contributions of your employees every day. Interestingly, today happens to be the official holiday known as National Employee Appreciation Day. Take this opportunity to express gratitude to your hardworking team members!

I find it strange, but here’s the explanation from the website: “National Employee Appreciation Day“, on March 3, reminds leaders, including us technology executives, that strong employer-employee relations are at the core of any truly successful business. Having a great relationship with your employees is an important aspect of being a manager, and appreciating their efforts can go a long way towards making workers feel valued.

Take some time on National Employee Appreciation Day to connect with your employees, offer authentic praise, and listen to their experiences.

Do we really need to remind managers that they should have a relationship with their employees?

Reality is you are successful because of the people who work for you. The more you know about the people who work for you the better you can align them with what they do best. If your employees feel appreciated and feel that you have their best interests at heart, they’ll do great things for you and the company.

Every day should be Employee Appreciation Day… Talk to your team regularly and have an open and honest relationship.

Overwhelmed IT Professional

Your boss comes to you and says, “I need you to do this immediately, it’s a priority.” However, this is number 10 of the “priorities” that your boss has dropped on you in the past week.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to complete everything on time? Look on the bright side – maybe your boss is just giving you extra work because they value your skills. It might sound unlikely, but who knows? Regardless, you’ll still need to find a way to get everything done efficiently. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your workload.

Firstly, it’s important to prioritize your tasks. Make a list of everything that needs to be done and rank them in order of importance. This will help you focus on the most crucial tasks first and avoid wasting time on less urgent ones.

Next, try breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make the workload seem less daunting and allow you to tackle each task one at a time without feeling overwhelmed.

Additionally, consider delegating some tasks if possible. If there are colleagues or team members who can assist with certain tasks, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to do everything on your own.

Another helpful tip for staying organized and efficient is to utilize technology. There are many productivity apps and tools available that can help you manage your tasks, set reminders, and track your progress. Find the ones that work best for you and incorporate them into your daily routine.

It’s also crucial to take breaks throughout the day. Working nonstop can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Make sure to schedule in short breaks or even a lunch break to recharge and refocus.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to say no if necessary. If your workload becomes too overwhelming or if a task does not align with your priorities, it’s okay to push back – nicely – so that you help your boss understand that they have provided you with too many “priorities.” “Nicely” is the key word. Because you are stressed and overworked you can overreact to the request and snap at your boss. Never a good thing as it could make you look unprofessional.

But if you keep accepting these assignments your boss will assume that you can handle them and will most likely keep giving you more. Ouch. You certainly don’t want all this work impacting your work life balance, and especially your health.

In conclusion, to help overcome being an overwhelmed IT professional, time management is a vital skill. By setting goals, prioritizing tasks, utilizing technology, taking breaks, and learning to say no when needed, you can effectively manage your time and achieve success in both your personal and professional life. Remember to continuously review and adjust your methods as needed to find what works best for you. With practice and determination, you can become a master of your own time.

Click here to see a post on setting expectations as a new tech professional.

What’s the cloud?

To thrive as a successful tech executive, or any executive for that matter, it’s crucial to understand the technology that shapes your company’s business. This knowledge equips you to make informed decisions and effectively guide your organization towards sustainable growth and success. As the digital landscape evolves, keeping abreast of technological advancements is not just an option but a necessity for leaders aiming to maintain a competitive edge. So, what’s the cloud I keep hearing so much about?

A simple search for “cloud” on Google not only brings up information about sky clouds but also unveils the fascinating realm of technology clouds, which have revolutionized how businesses operate. Leading the charge in this domain are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). These platforms offer robust, scalable solutions to cater to diverse business needs. While there are numerous other players in the market, let’s focus on these prominent three for now, as they set the benchmark for cloud services.

Firstly, let’s clarify what “cloud” means.

Essentially, it’s a collection of interconnected technologies—servers, data storage, networking, and more—managed by a provider. Leveraging the cloud allows you to deploy software applications without fretting over the underlying infrastructure, enabling businesses to focus more on innovation and less on technical maintenance. Consider it a distributed data center accessible online, with options for direct connections to ensure seamless data flow and robust security.

  • You don’t need to own or manage the hardware, thereby reducing capital expenditure and alleviating the burden of hardware maintenance and upgrades.

  • You don’t need to oversee operating systems or virtual environments, as this is managed by the cloud provider, allowing your IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives.

  • You don’t need to worry about scalability, since cloud platforms offer flexible solutions that can easily adapt to your business’s growing needs without significant downtime or disruptions.

  • You can deploy and make your app global instantly, reaching a worldwide audience faster than ever before, which is especially beneficial for companies aiming to enter new markets.

  • You can centralize your operations with one provider, simplifying management and operations (though many opt for a hybrid cloud approach with multiple providers to maximize resilience and flexibility).

  • You can reclassify capital expenses as operational costs, improving cash flow management and financial planning.

The advantages are clear: by avoiding a data center and a large system management team, a company can significantly reduce costs.

However, poor planning can lead to unnecessary expenses, like paying for excess services and capacity that aren’t utilized effectively. Thoughtful planning and strategizing for cloud migration are essential to optimize utilization and cost-efficiency, ensuring that your business reaps the full benefits of cloud technology.

In summary, cloud is a transformative technology that provides numerous opportunities for businesses to grow and innovate. While cloud technology offers significant advantages, it’s crucial to understand its complexities and plan accordingly. This will ultimately lead to a successful migration and efficient utilization of resources, cementing your role as a knowledgeable and effective tech executive. By embracing the cloud, you position your organization to leverage cutting-edge technology, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable success in an increasingly competitive market.

Click here for a post on keeping the data center or moving to cloud.

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