It Depends: Lessons in Technology Leadership

In this episode of the "It Depends" podcast, host Kevin Goldsmith, a seasoned CTO and tech executive, explores the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from employee resignations. Drawing from his extensive experience and insights from his book "It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012-2022," Kevin delves into how a resignation can actually present a unique opportunity for growth and improvement within a team.

Kevin discusses the emotional and professional impacts of resignations, the pitfalls of unhealthy retention, and the importance of fostering a dynamic team environment. He shares anecdotes from his career, including experiences at Adobe and Spotify, highlighting how to handle resignations constructively and turn them into opportunities for positive change.

Listen in to learn how to transform the challenge of losing a team member into a strategic advantage, improve your management skills, and create a more resilient and innovative team.

Welcome to the It Depends podcast with your host, Kevin Goldsmith! Kevin is a seasoned Chief Technology Officer with over 30 years of experience in software development, having worked in both colossal companies and budding startups. In each episode, Kevin delves deeper into the chapters, offering more context and behind-the-scenes stories.

This week, Kevin revisits a chapter from 2013: What Do I Look for When Hiring an Engineer? Tune in as he discusses the evolution of hiring practices in the tech industry, shares personal anecdotes from his days at Microsoft, and provides valuable advice on navigating the ever-changing landscape of job interviews.

Links:

• The book: It Depends: Writing on Technology 2012-2022
• Your host: Kevin Goldsmith
• The newsletter
• LeadingEng NYC 2024 (use the discount code "Distrokid" for 10% off the registration price)

In this episode of the "It Depends" podcast, host Kevin Goldsmith delves into the complexities of decision-making in management and its implications on organizational policy. Titled "Every Decision Creates a Policy," this chapter is particularly significant, highlighting common managerial pitfalls and their long-term effects on company culture and consistency.

Kevin shares his extensive experience to illustrate how seemingly simple approvals can set precedents, inadvertently shaping future policies. He explains scenarios where inconsistent decisions led to perceived favoritism and ultimately necessitated the imposition of strict, rigid policies that curtailed previously enjoyed freedoms. The episode emphasizes the importance of consistency and transparency in managerial decisions to maintain trust and morale within the team.

Listeners will gain insights into the nuanced impact of their decisions and learn practical strategies for aligning individual managerial actions with broader organizational values. This episode is crucial for managers, leaders, and anyone interested in understanding the ripple effects of their choices in a corporate environment.

Links:

• The book: It Depends: Writing on Technology 2012-2022
• Your host: Kevin Goldsmith
• The newsletter
• LeadingEng 2024

This chapter discusses what you can do as a manager to protect your team from layoffs: Ensure the team is aligned with company goals. Raising the visibility of the good work of the individuals on the team. Managing performance. All of these things will help when someone is trying to decide if anyone from your team should be laid off. This episode adds more information for individuals and talks about how managers are judged more by the work of their team and less by their own individual contributions.

Links:

• The book: It Depends: Writing on Technology 2012-2022
• Your host: Kevin Goldsmith
• The newsletter
• LeadingEng 2024

Politics! The word has such a negative connotation when discussing work and corporate culture. Political tactics or maneuvers aren't inherently bad. It is the intent behind them that makes them so. You can leverage those same tactics for good instead of evil.

In this episode, Kevin delves into 'The P Word' and discusses the good and bad sides of politics in the workplace based on his own experiences. Whether you're navigating corporate hallways or startup pathways, this one's packed with insights you don't want to miss.

Links:

• The book: It Depends: Writing on Technology 2012-2022
• Your host: Kevin Goldsmith
• The newsletter

Teams create their own languages organically, which is essential to team bonding and belonging. Understand this and use it to improve how your team works together and to make it easier when onboarding new members.

Links:

• The newsletter with the text of the chapter: https://kevingoldsmith.substack.com/p/building-a-vernacular-with-your-engineering
• "It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012-2022" https://itdependsbook.net
• It Depends newsletter: https://kevingoldsmith.substack.com
• Questions/comments: contact@itdependsbook.net

If you are on the technology management track, the final role is Chief Technology Officer. Still, the path to the role is not obvious because the role itself differs greatly from company to company. The episode includes chapter 10 from "It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012-2022," "Becoming a CTO." This chapter discusses the common skills needed for the CTO in almost any company and how the role differs between early-stage and mid-stage companies.

More information about the book is at itdependsbook.net
Questions/comments? contact@itdependsbook.net
The newsletter: kevingoldsmith.substack.com
Your Host: Kevin Goldsmith

Once again, two shorter chapters in this podcast from the book.

How I get my focused work done:
When you are a manager, constantly interrupted, how can you get focus time to devote to your projects?

The Known Unknowns:
Understanding the mastery curve.

Links:
Book/Podcast/Newsletter website: https://itdependsbook.net/
Questions/Comments/Suggestions contact@itdependsbook.net