Lawrence Jones’ Post

A staff+ dev role means you are a not only a good dev, but also a good leader. Leading initiatives without command and control over reports can be a challenge. On top of your strong technical skills, you need to be able to tell inspiring stories, deliver critical feedback tactfully, write clearly, build relationships and handle disagreements. These are some key activities for staff+ devs trying to keep their initiatives rolling: 1. Storytelling - Frame the problem/initiative with context so that other people care about it. 2. Have a simple goal - If going from 0 to 1, a clear and easy one to get the ball rolling. 3. Over-communicate - Repeat your story, and update on progress towards the goal frequently. 4. Set a standard - Either yourself or with a pioneering team. People need to see what it looks like. 5. Write down changes - Use decision records, get buy in. Modify existing paradigms instead of starting from scratch where possible. 6. Relationships - Build trust with influential devs, team leads, and PMs. Gather feedback. 7. If stuck, escalate to your leadership with specific asks. - Ex. "Can you message <person>, and ask them what's blocking this <ticket>?". #software #developer #staff #leadership

Struggling to lead your dev team effectively? 🚀 In the fast-paced tech world, a Head of Development needs a robust skill set that goes beyond coding prowess. Leadership in this role isn't just about steering the ship; it's about being the compass that guides through innovation, strategy, and problem-solving. 🧱 Visionary Yet Grounded A successful Head should see the big picture, set a clear direction, and inspire their team towards a shared goal. But it's the balance with practicality - understanding the limitations and working creatively within them - that separates the good from the great. 🤝 People-First Approach Technical know-how should walk hand-in-hand with interpersonal skills. Nurturing talent, fostering collaboration, and creating an inclusive environment where all voices are valued will drive performance and innovation. 🔄 Agile and Adaptable The tech landscape is always shifting. Being adaptable and staying abreast of new trends and methodologies will keep your team - and your products - at the forefront. 💡 Intellectual Curiosity A true dev leader remains a student at heart, embracing lifelong learning and encouraging their team to do the same. Stretch your skills, dive into new technologies, and keep the intellectual fire alight. 🔄 Feedback-Focused Constructive feedback, both given and received, is invaluable. It drives improvement and shows a commitment to professional development - for yourself and your team. To sum up, it's about being dynamic 🌀, visionary 🌟, and grounded 🌱. The goal? To foster a thriving environment where innovation knows no bounds, and the team feels empowered to achieve greatness. #Leadership #Development #TeamBuilding

🌟 Inspiring and motivating the team: The tech lead's secret sauce! Let's delve into a big challenge faced by Tech Lead Developers: 🍀Inspiration and motivation of the team: As a Tech Lead, you're not just responsible for overseeing technical tasks; you're also a catalyst for team morale and productivity. Here's how you can master the art of inspiring and motivating your team: 1. Lead by Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate dedication, passion, and a positive attitude in your work, inspiring your team to follow suit. 2. Acknowledge Achievements: Celebrate both individual and team accomplishments. Recognizing your team's efforts boosts morale and fosters a sense of pride and camaraderie. 3. Provide Growth Opportunities: Encourage professional development by offering training, mentorship, and opportunities for skill enhancement. Empower your team members to reach their full potential. 4. Foster Open Communication: Create an environment where team members feel heard and valued. Encourage open dialogue, feedback, and collaboration to foster trust and engagement. 5. Set Clear Goals: Define clear objectives and expectations for projects and individual tasks. Clear goals provide direction and purpose, motivating your team to work towards a shared vision. So, developers, what strategies do you use to inspire and motivate your team members? Share your insights and success stories in the comments below! ✨ Get inspired, get motivated, and let's make conding life easier! 💪🏽 #TechLead #Developer #Motivation #Inspiration #

The journey from a software developer to a leadership position like CTO or CIO is a fascinating evolution, full of challenges and rewarding moments. 🌟 As a developer, you're deep in the trenches of code, ensuring every line functions perfectly. Transitioning to a leadership role, you're no longer just crafting code but also shaping the direction of an entire team or company. This shift brings new responsibilities, such as strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team development, which can be both daunting and exhilarating. 📈🚀    One of the greatest challenges in this transition is shifting from the hands-on, detail-oriented work of coding to the broader, big-picture thinking required in leadership. As a developer, you're focused on solving specific technical problems. As a leader, you must anticipate future challenges, inspire your team, and make decisions that affect the entire organization. It requires a different mindset and skill set, often involving continuous learning and adaptation. 📚🛠️    Interestingly, the skills that make you a great coder also contribute to being an effective leader. Just as you must care about every detail in your code, you must be considerate and supportive of your team members. Empathy, problem-solving, and a passion for continuous improvement are critical in both realms. This intrinsic understanding of the technical challenges your team faces, combined with your ability to guide them, makes developers uniquely suited for leadership roles. 👨💻➡️👨💼💼    Have you experienced or are you considering a transition from a developer to a leadership role? What challenges or rewards have you encountered along the way? Share your thoughts below! 👇    #LeadershipJourney #TechLeadership #CTO #CIO #SoftwareDevelopment #CareerGrowth #TechCommunity  

Ready to elevate your tech lead game? It's time to embrace a new mindset and focus on collaboration and quality. Dive into our blog post for essential tips to excel in your role: #TechLeadership #CollaborativeMindset #QualityMatters

Ready to elevate your tech lead game? It's time to embrace a new mindset and focus on collaboration and quality. Dive into our blog post for essential tips to excel in your role: #TechLeadership #CollaborativeMindset #QualityMatters

Ready to elevate your tech lead game? It's time to embrace a new mindset and focus on collaboration and quality. Dive into our blog post for essential tips to excel in your role: #TechLeadership #CollaborativeMindset #QualityMatters

I’ve led teams in many big organizations, driving technical projects and digital transformation. Most of the time, I’m working with junior team members who have just started their careers. It’s my job to give them nudges in the right direction, so they can find their footing and unlock their potential.   One time, I was leading a team of developers and operational staff at a global payment tech company. The developers were full of ideas, always looking to push boundaries. The operations crew? They stuck to what they knew worked.   I had to get them out of their comfort zone, so I decided to introduce weekly programming challenges. Nothing too intense, just small exercises.   One team member stood out—he took the challenge head-on and dove into coding.   In a few months, he had transitioned to a developer role. Not long after, he landed a full-time dev position and transferred U.S. Just like that, one little push changed the course of his career.   At a logistics company, I did a similar thing with their junior developers. I knew they had the talent, but they lacked the experience. So, when we took on a big, complex project, breaking down a massive system into smaller pieces, I gave them the big picture and left them to figure out the rest.   It was challenging, but each decision they made boosted their confidence. Here’s what I’ve learned: leadership isn’t about micromanaging. It’s about creating space for your team to grow. It takes patience, and sometimes you must repeat yourself, or offer guidance when things get rough. But when your team successfully steps out of their comfort zone and takes pride in their work—that’s when you know you’ve done your job. That’s what true leadership looks like.   #Leadership #TeamDevelopment #Coaching #ProfessionalGrowth

Hello Techies! 🚀 Today, let's talk about leveling up in your career as a developer. Many of us start our journey writing code, solving bugs, and building awesome applications. But have you ever thought about taking the leap from a developer to a manager? 🤔 Transitioning from a developer to a manager is not just about knowing how to code. It's about leading people, making tough decisions, and driving your team towards success. It's a whole new game, and it requires a different skill set. But hey, you've got this! 💪 First things first, start building your leadership skills. Communicate clearly, listen actively, and show empathy to your team members. Being a manager is not just about giving orders, it's about inspiring others to do their best work. Next, learn to delegate tasks effectively. As a developer, you might be used to doing everything yourself, but as a manager, you need to trust your team to get the job done. Delegating tasks shows that you have confidence in your team and gives them opportunities to grow. Don't forget to set clear goals and expectations for your team. Help them understand the vision and direction of the project, and empower them to take ownership of their work. A successful manager knows how to motivate their team and keep them focused on the end goal. And last but not least, don't be afraid to take on new challenges. Stepping into a managerial role can be intimidating, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow, and remember that it's okay to ask for help along the way. So, if you're ready to take your career to the next level, start thinking like a manager today. You've got all the skills and potential to succeed, now go out there and show the world what you're capable of! 🌟 Keep coding, keep leading, and keep shining bright! ✨ #TechLeadership #ManagerialSkills #CareerGrowth

Couldn’t agree more with Alice Bonhomme-Biais advice here ! Understanding the why, the rationale behind a need, its strategy and broader context helps sharing a common direction and vision. It will reinforce the mutual trust and connection between a stakeholder/skip level and a staff-plus engineer. Once efficient in having those discussions with skip-levels/stakeholders, We need to remind ourselves as staff, that context could evolve fast, these discussions are rarely one shot and done, it needs to become part of our ways of working.