Rockstar Engineering Leaders

Here are 10 attributes I’ve noticed about rockstar engineering leaders.

1. They tend to be more?business oriented?than you think. Don’t get me wrong, they understand the technological side very deeply. But they have an astute mind when it comes to the realities of business. I’ve seen too many CTOs with their nose stuck in tech.
2. They usually have a?knack for solving problems with technology. They can look at business problems and come up with good technological solutions and present multiple viable options for the business to choose from.
3. They’re really good at working across the aisle?with product and the business. They know how to listen and understand their problems. They are good communicators who know how to bridge the gaps between these stakeholders.
4. They?don’t waste money.?They are careful about their budgets. They negotiate with vendors and partners. They are knowledgeable about hiring at the proper rates. They know which technologies to bring in that have the best value for money.
5. They are?great educators. They help everyone else in the company understand just enough about technology to make great decisions. They aren’t above teaching and helping people at every level. They share their knowledge.
6. They?don’t work on unnecessary projects. Everything their team does is aligned with the business. That doesn’t mean they don’t innovate or experiment. They just do it within some guard-rails that makes sense for the company.
7. They?spend time on the front lines?with customers. They hang out with the customer support team and learn about customer problems. They talk to customers and understand how the market is changing.
8. They are?trusted by the CEO. They are reliable. The CEO knows that the technology stack, uptime, security and compliance will be taken care of. The fundamentals will be addressed, and stability of the ecosystem will be there.
9. They?know how to prioritize. I see so many CTOs get this one wrong by working on stuff that doesn’t matter. The best engineering leaders prioritize ruthlessly. And they constantly seek out their leadership to make sure they are in alignment as well.
10. Rockstar engineering leaders almost always have?some special or unique skill. My favorites are: AI/ML, Data Science, Big Data/Analytics, Integrations or Modernization. There are others of course.

Closing Thoughts

Those are my top ten traits. There are definitely ones that didn’t make this list and that’s okay. One of the perks of being a leader is when people surprise you with something new.

Maybe that is the bonus 11th trait: Great engineers aren’t constrained by top ten lists. They find their own unique mix of creativity and problem solving and use that to make those around them better.

If you like this content, you can get more by signing up for our free newsletter at https://www.technocratic.io for free. A new article will appear in your inbox every week.