Leadership, introverts, empathy in software engineering and dragons!

Coding Chats episode 29 - John Crickett and Sarah Gruneisen delve into the complexities of leadership, particularly in the engineering field. They discuss the challenges faced by individuals transitioning from technical roles to leadership positions, emphasizing the need for proper training and emotional intelligence. Sarah shares her insights on the importance of self-reflection, vulnerability, and understanding different personality types, including introverts as effective leaders. The discussion also touches on the pitfalls of agile methodologies when not implemented correctly and the necessity of connecting engineers with business goals to foster a productive environment.

Chapters

00:00 The Transition to Leadership

03:50 Challenges of Leadership Training

08:35 The Importance of Self-Awareness

13:00 Empowering Teams and Leadership Styles

16:42 The Journey to Leadership Coaching20:52 Understanding Emotional Intelligence

29:36 Empathy and Its Many Forms

33:09 Introverts as Effective Leaders

35:39 The Power of Introverted Leadership

40:28 Agile vs. Not Agile: Understanding the Framework

50:34 Connecting Engineers with Business Needs

55:36 Embracing the Dragon Within: Leadership and Empathy

Sarah's Links:

Sarah's Book: https://www.avagasso.com/shop

Sarah's Leadership program: https://www.avagasso.com/lead

Sarah's Services: https://www.avagasso.com/offers

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways:

Many individuals promoted to leadership lack proper training.

Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.

Self-reflection and vulnerability are key traits for leaders.Introverts can be effective leaders with the right skills.

Agile methodologies often fail due to lack of understanding.

Leaders should connect with their teams on a personal level.

Empathy can be developed and is essential for leadership.

Engineers need to understand business needs to thrive.

Leadership is about inspiring and empowering others.

Creating a safe environment for teams is vital for productivity.