In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, the role of leadership is not just about overseeing the development of technologies but about fostering an environment where communication and collaboration shape the system architecture. This approach acknowledges Conway’s Law, which suggests that organizations design systems that mirror their own communication structures.
Leadership in technology should focus on crafting the right teams for the right missions, allowing these teams to organically develop solutions that align with the overarching mission of the organization. This is a shift from a traditional approach where leadership might dictate specific services and architectures. Instead, tech leaders should enable teams by defining their purposes and ensuring they have the tools and support necessary to succeed.
A practical application of this philosophy is seen in the use of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). OKRs empower teams to own their strategies and align their efforts with the broader company goals. This autonomy is crucial. When teams are merely handed down projects without involvement in the architectural decisions, they are less likely to feel accountable or invested in the outcomes. True ownership requires that teams have the freedom to make both product and software decisions.
Supporting teams goes beyond just setting goals; it involves continuous engagement to help them navigate challenges and reduce cognitive overload. This might involve establishing specialized teams, such as platform teams or enabling teams, which help streamline processes and allow product teams to focus on their core missions without getting bogged down by technical redundancies.
However, leadership’s role isn’t just in facilitation and support. It’s also about maintaining the health of the team dynamics, identifying when teams are overwhelmed, and adjusting team structures or missions to prevent burnout and ensure productivity. This proactive engagement helps preserve the agility and responsiveness of the organization.
Leadership Missteps to Avoid
Tech leadership should avoid the pitfalls of ‘Ivory Tower’ architecture, where decisions are made in isolation from those who implement them. Such approaches can lead to disconnection, dissatisfaction, and ultimately, dysfunction within teams. Instead, leadership should cultivate architectural skills within teams, encouraging them to design solutions that are best suited for their specific challenges.
In summary, the role of tech leadership today is to design ecosystems of communication and collaboration, rather than dictating technical specifics. By doing so, they not only leverage the collective expertise of their teams but also drive innovation and ownership that are critical for the success of modern tech organizations.