Expectations of a Technology Leader

November 2, 2011

Agenda

• Overview• Scattered Thoughts• Leadership Dimensions• Anti-patterns• Next Steps & Milestones

Overview

• Why go through this effort?• Way of evaluating ourselves as leaders and identify opportunities of growth• Blueprint for how to mentor our leaders-in-training

• What is a leader? According to the Marine Corps (http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmc/leadership_traits.htm):

• Justice• Judgment• Dependability• Initiative• Decisiveness• Tact• Integrity• Enthusiam• Bearing• Unselfishness• Courage• Knowledge• Loyalty• Endurance

Scattered Thoughts

• Leadership in the eyes of Shopzilla’s technology leaders:

Owner

• A leader sees things through to completion:• Follow through• Commitment• Accountability• Responsibility, especially in the face of failure• The ability to get things done• Unprovoked diligence

Technologist

• A leader exhibits both width and depth in various technologies• Width

• Wide understanding of different system patterns• The ability to apply the right technology to the right business problem

• Depth• Deep experience in those technologies such that the team can be lead

toward effective execution• Strategy

• Working with the business teams to leverage technology to create business value

Innovator

• A leader continuously seeks opportunities to make things better• Constantly recognizing opportunities on their own• Leveraging ideas raised by the team• Converting those opportunities into an action plan and seeing it through to

completion

Communicator

• A leader is an effective communicator• Ability to set the appropriate tone for the situation• Urgent but calm under pressure• Applies effective communication to all mediums• Chooses words carefully• Tailors communication style to the audience

Decision Maker

• A leader is an effective decision maker• Exercises good judgment• Is able to critically think about the problem, ask the right questions, and come

to a decision• Leverages the knowledge and expertise of those on the team• Is able to argue, defend, and support decisions

Mentor

• A leader is a coach and mentor• Challenges the team and helps them achieve• Invested in the team’s success• Converts bad situations into coaching opportunities• Sets examples for others to follow• Makes others around them better

Delegator

• A leader is a force multiplier• Recognize and leverages the strengths of the team• Identifies the appropriate opportunities to shield vs. engage• Is able to organize a team around a specific project or problem (such as a

swat)

Teammate

• A leader is an exemplary teammate• Puts the needs of the team ahead of themselves• This extends not only to the team they manage, but fellow leaders across the

organization• Looks for opportunities to make the team better• Shares success/failure experiences• Resource allocation decisions

• As leaders, it’s important for us to recognize

Anti-patterns

• What is the opposite of what we want in our leaders:• Refuses to accept responsibility• Territorial• Cryptic• Inflexible• Deflating• Selfish• Difficult to work with• Poor communicator• “Not my responsibility” mentality

Next Steps & Milestones

• Evaluate each dimension and identify areas where we can personally improve• Do we feel comfortable reviewing this as a group?

• Utilize these dimensions as a blueprint for how to coach leaders-in-training• Review by end of Q4 in advance of annual performance appraisal early next

year• Success measurements?