About me
My name is Mauro Bagnato and for over 15 years I have been leading tech organizations.
When I first stepped into leadership, I believed technical expertise was the key to being an effective leader. However, I quickly learned that organizations are living and complex systems and that leading them demands much more than just technical know-how. I believe that curiosity is at the heart of effective leadership. This is what fuels learning and experimentation, both crucial for continuous improvement. This blog aims to explore engineering leadership in all its aspects and to provide insights in a tangible and pragmatic manner. It will also be a space where I will share insights, reflections, and personal takeaways from books, podcasts, and articles that influenced and keep influencing my journey.
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Popular articles
The early days in a leadership role can be challenging, and I know it firsthand.
One common pitfall that many new leaders face is the tendency to micromanage their team.
In my early days as a leader, I found myself falling into the same trap and it took time and effort to make it go away.
Reflecting on my experience, I realized why I micromanaged my team and I think my conclusion is something many leaders can relate to.
The point was that I knew the ins and outs of being a software developer, but I had no clue about what it was like to be a leader instead.
I was so eager to make a positive impact that I simply ended up focusing my energy where I felt most confident, almost without realizing it.
My learning from this experience is that the transition toward a leadership role can be much smoother and micromanagement can be prevented if we acknowledge that:
👉 leadership requires intentional development and preparation. 👈
➡ Future leaders should be given the opportunity to practice leadership before they take on formal leadership roles. Shadowing more experienced leaders and/or leading small initiatives/projects can help build the necessary muscles to face the inevitable challenges of the new role.
➡ Once in the new role, leaders should be continuously mentored and coached to sharpen their skills and learn from their mistakes.What are your thoughts about micromanagement? How to prevent it?
