The Hidden Blind Spots in Your Tech Career: Why Self-Starting Developers Need Coaches to Thrive

As a software developer, you likely think of yourself as a "self-starter". You're highly motivated, fast-learning, and always eager to take on new challenges. You have a broad base of knowledge and are confident in your abilities. But have you ever stopped to consider the blind spots in your career development that come with always expecting yourself to figure out the best path forward on your own?

Throughout history, skilled workers in various fields have faced similar challenges. In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, skilled artisans were hesitant to seek assistance or training, fearing that it would diminish their autonomy and status as skilled workers. Similarly, doctors in the 20th century were often reluctant to seek help or advice in their careers, leading to a culture of isolation and burnout in the medical profession.

The maverick technologist - a seductive lie

In the tech industry, being a self-starter can be an asset. And being in a profession where your value often feels tied to your intelligence, asking for help can seem counterintuitive to showing strength. However, it can also lead to blind spots that can hurt your career. Without guidance, you may miss out on opportunities to develop new skills or work on cutting-edge projects that could make you more valuable in the marketplace. As you age, it can be harder to continue finding work as a software developer, as newer technologies emerge and younger, less expensive developers enter the market. Sometimes a new direction is needed - and that doesn't have to mean becoming a manager!

This is where coaching can be invaluable. By working with experienced mentors or coaches, you can gain new perspectives, develop new skills, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. This can help you to advance your career, make yourself more valuable in the marketplace, and increase your longevity in the industry.

There are many examples of professionals in other industries who have increased their marketplace value through coaching. For example, professional athletes often work with coaches to improve their performance, develop new skills, and stay competitive. The same is true for musicians, actors, and other performers who work with coaches to refine their craft and advance their careers.

Another gadget, or another tax bracket?

You might hesitate to invest in coaching due to the perceived cost. However, it's important to consider the value that coaching can provide. For example, you may spend thousands of dollars on high-end equipment or gadgets that may not have as much impact on your career as coaching would. A $1,500 engagement with an experienced coach, assuming a rate of $225 per hour, can provide significant long-term salary and quality of life benefits compared to a $1,500 gaming computer or smartphone upgrade. Of course this depends on the coach and their experience in both the industry, and getting clients outcomes.

So, if you're a self-starter like many software developers who are struggling a bit, challenge the assumption that you don't need help with your career. Seek guidance from experienced mentors or coaches to gain new perspectives, develop new skills, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. With the explosion of new AI frameworks and shifting landscape of technology, strong communication and social skills are getting to be more valuable than ever. And often employers don't have the resources (or time) to dedicate to helping IT professionals get better in these areas. They're too busy trying to get products out!

Career coaches should do more than get you hired

In my 25 year career in the software industry, I never once met a developer who confided in me that they invested in professional coaching. At first I thought maybe people just weren't talking about it, but after looking around Google I found practically nobody doing the type of coaching I felt IT professionals need.

And that really started to bother me. Why do all the other industries have coaches, but not us? And why are there programming coaches, and coaches that help you get hired - but not coaches that help us with the tough stuff? You know things like meeting deadlines, negotiating technology decisions, and developing discernment for when to press into a challenge and when to let it slide. These were things I learned the hard way transitioning from an employee to a consultant about halfway through my career.

So 6 years ago I started a YouTube channel to share some of the inside dirt on things people weren't talking about in the industry. And some of the ways I've learned people treat each other - and how to cope with it. Soon afterwards, I began to try my hand at coaching by advising some friends. They loved it, and I began a new chapter of my life.

If you ever want a helping hand, I offer professional career coaching specifically for software development professionals in roles like programming, product management, engineering management, QA, and UX as examples. I have limited time to meet with potential clients, but if you have a budget to invest in getting more out of your career, you can book a free consultation with me to find out if coaching just might be what you're missing.