205: How to Build High-Performing Teams

Leadership vs. management and how feedback enables high-performing teams

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Off Topic: The Difference Between Managers and Leaders

Taking on a management role only sometimes makes someone a great leader. You don't need permission to develop your skills and gain experience. Start building your leadership skills today. Leadership is about taking action. It's not limited to a specific role but requires certain experiences. Yet, it often takes courage to show leadership. For example, speaking out about a complex issue can be an act of leadership. It may involve pointing out something everyone avoids or highlighting a team's blind spot. Leadership can take many forms and come from anyone, not those in positions of authority.

Be clear about your priorities, and don't dilute yourself across everything. Give your support to other leaders who are working to make improvements. Make your feedback non-blocking. Leadership skills are complex, and they take time to develop. As Management Consultant Kathy Austin once said, "Managers light a fire under people; leaders light a fire in people." 

Current Work: How to Build High-Performing Teams

Feedback makes teamwork and drives a project to a beneficial outcome. A community of professionals means that we are expected to share and learn with each other, raising the bar of our industry. Professionals are defined by the way they work. Sound practices are good until we discover better ones to replace them. Experimenting becomes very costly when the Software is not modular and testable. A profession is something we invest in. It’s something we want to get better at. We want to gain more skills and have a long-lasting and fulfilling career. Companies need collaborative, iterative processes and sound engineering skills to achieve business agility.

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