Transitioning into Your First Tech Leadership Role with Robbie Clutton

Mike speaks to Robbie Clutton a fractional CTO, who does pretty much anything engineering-related. Today, they discuss transitioning from being an individual contributor to taking on a leadership role. Looking at how to decide if this is right for you and what you can expect that new role to look like.

Robbie also shares some really practical tips to help you to coach, manage and develop your first team. He covers giving feedback, managing one-to-ones, building relationships, effectively managing up and much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Becoming a fractional CTO genuinely gives you control over how and when you work.
• To cover any lean times, have some cash behind you, reduce your spending and develop several income streams, e.g. coaching and advising.
• Not everyone can lead so try before you buy by taking on temporary leadership roles.
• Be wary of roles that require you to code but spend a lot of time managing people. You won´t be able to get into the necessary flow state to code well.
• Correct poor behaviour quickly.
• Creating a culture in which people can thrive is a leader´s No. 1 priority.
• Don´t protect your team from everything. They need to understand why things are needed in a certain way, if they don´t the hows they come up with may not work well.
• When asking for resources be clear about what you need and ask early.
• Consider using an external mentor. There is no bias in that relationship.
• The smartest people always ask for help.

BEST MOMENTS

04:21 "During school holidays, it's very easy for me to dial down the work."

14:07 "Before you take on any formal responsibility start looking for the informal ownership of things." (Robbie explaining how to work out if a leadership role is a good fit for you)

42:00 "There´s no way you´re gonna be good at leading people if you´re not able to have a courageous conversation and give course-correcting feedback." 

54:19 "For managing out make sure what you´re asking for is clear and ask it kind of early." 

RESOURCES

https://ctocraft.com/

Micheal Bungay Stainer - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B002QK41GQ

Non-violent Communication - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nonviolent-Communication-Language-Life-Guides/dp/189200528X

The Leadership Pipeline - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-Pipeline-3rd-Developing-Leaders/dp/B0CYJ6NJZY

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.