The CTO Playbook

55: CTO Leadership Secrets: The Power of IQ, EQ, and FQ with Faris Aranki

Aug 4, 2025
Faris Aranki, founder of Shiageto Consulting and former strategy consultant, shares his insights on effective leadership and team dynamics. He emphasizes the criticality of weekly one-on-ones for individual success and aligning performance with company goals. Aranki discusses the integration of IQ, EQ, and FQ for fostering collaboration, particularly in high-stakes environments. Through active listening, he shows how building trust can enhance productivity while addressing the impacts of marginalization in tech teams. The conversation is rich with practical strategies for leaders.
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INSIGHT

Tech Teams' Unique EQ Challenges

  • Tech teams often have high IQ but lower EQ, leading to hiding behind tech rather than confronting issues.
  • Relationships and human connection become crucial as teams grow beyond founders.
INSIGHT

The IQ, EQ, and FQ Formula

  • IQ (smart ideas), EQ (emotional buy-in), and FQ (focus) are all essential for team success.
  • Missing any one of these leads to failure regardless of strengths in others.
INSIGHT

Too Many Priorities Dilute Focus

  • Teams often run hundreds of simultaneous projects, diluting focus and effectiveness.
  • Individuals default to working on favorite tasks when priorities are unclear, causing fractures.
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