Technical Debt in Government IT: How CTOs Build Agility
The biggest cost of technical debt is not always keeping old technology alive. It is what that old technology prevents you from doing next. The Technology Works. So What’s the Problem? One of the hardest technology problems to explain is a system that still works. The server is running. The application opens. Employees can create […]
True North: Avoiding Distractions As A Technical Leader
Why Leaders Lose Focus In a world where the pace of innovation is measured in milliseconds, technical leaders face a constant barrage of shiny objects. Avoiding distractions as a technical leader can be almost impossible. New tools. New frameworks. New buzzwords. For example, lately, there has been an avalanche of AI tools with names that sound […]
Managing Difficult High Performers: How To Lead Brilliant Jerks
Managing Difficult High Performers As a leader, your challenge is to harness a high performer’s skills while mitigating the negative impact of their behavior. This article explores strategies for managing difficult high performers effectively, balancing their contributions with the team’s needs. Every leader dreams of having a team entirely of high performers—those rockstar employees who […]
Driving Team Performance: The Surprising Power of Saying No
If you scroll through LinkedIn today, you’ll see countless posts about leadership. Everybody under the sun—Simon Sinek, Jocko Willink, you name it—has a take on what it means to lead. Emotional intelligence, servant leadership, and other warm, fuzzy styles dominate the conversation. (By the way, if you haven’t read Simon Sinek’s book Leaders Eat Last, […]
9 Tips for New Leaders – Advice from Andy Beckman
Every New Leader Needs some Tips Stepping into a leadership role for the first time can be exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re a new manager, supervisor, or team leader, the transition comes with challenges that require confidence, adaptability, and a clear strategy. Strong leadership isn’t just about authority—it’s about setting expectations, building trust, and driving […]
What is a Technical Leader? Key Roles and Responsibilities
What is a technical leader? Technical leadership plays a crucial role in guiding engineering teams toward success. It involves more than managing projects and people—it requires a deep understanding of technical work and the ability to make strategic decisions. A technical leader combines technical expertise with leadership skills to drive innovation, mentor team members, and […]