Sometimes, technical leaders get good at people leadership and lose touch with the technology.

Not often, maybe, but it’s a risk that increases as they advance through leadership levels.

One of the technical leadership success factors is “Tech Savvy.”

But the nature of Tech Savvy changes as you go up the ladder of responsibility. You can’t ignore it, because that is the domain or context in which you are leading people. It is key to your functional credibility. It's what enables you to help the business and the end users.

Here is one technique I teach leaders to help them build Tech Savvy at the managerial and executive levels.

Short-Term Skill Builder - Tech Savvy

Advocate for the business and end users in meetings about needs and solutions.

1. First, understand the business problem for the end user. What do they need to accomplish? Who do they serve? Have them show you their process. Have empathy and put yourself in their shoes.
2. Then, know what solutions are available to you. Don’t just take the first solution! Stay curious and think about the problem from both the end user and overall business points of view.
3. Keep yourself up to date on technical options. Stay curious about how technology could be used. Dedicate a little time each week to reviewing technical developments in your field, or ask your team members to find out and educate you.
4. Speak up and contribute. Advocate for the best mix of solution options to satisfy all stakeholder needs. Make frequent use of the phrase, “Here are some solutions we could explore.”

Some related tips:

• Ask how this technology will help the end user.
• Ask what needs to be simplified.
• Ask what will be “good enough” to meet end user and business objectives.
• Look to the future–updates, support, security or safety, upgrades, and how the solution could handle future changes to the business process.
• Recognize that the best technical solution is usually not the best business or customer solution; have empathy, see multiple sides, and value compromise.
• Be willing to accept a “B” solution now when it’s needed, instead of pushing for the best technical “A” solution.

Tech Savvy at manager and strategic leadership levels is different from what's needed as an individual contributor or lead. In the management levels, leaders are expected to know the applications of technology and the trade-offs each solution offers. At strategic levels, they are expected to take a big-picture view that includes not only technical quality but overall life cycle, end user experience, reliability, and total cost of ownership into account. Technical leaders need to devote some time to staying abreast of developments in their fields to provide this picture in business discussions.

Develop and share your Tech Savvy! As you serve your organization, its employees, and its customers, you will be recognized as a credible, “go to” leader in your technical field. It’s all part of being a great technical leader.

Cheers,
–Steve

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P.S. Work with more concepts and tools like this! My Technical Leadership Scorecard has a quick diagnostic that clients have found helpful (click here to see the scorecard). I have built this into both training programs and customized individual coaching engagements. Check it out and share this with others who might find it helpful.

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