“How hands-on should I be as a tech leader?” is not the right question!
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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.
Find out how I can help you!
I get this question a lot, and my answer often disappoints people because I challenge the premise behind it.
The problem is that the question is centered around You while the real focus should be on Your Team instead.
To make it more explicit:
When you transition from an individual contributor role to a leadership position, the most important shift to recognize is that
👉 your success is no longer measured by what you achieve, but by what your team achieves. 👈
Hence the more meaningful questions become:
What does success mean for my team?
* What does success mean for my team?
* How can I, as a tech leader, enable my team to succeed?
Making this mindset shift is, in my experience, one of the biggest challenges for first-time leaders.
