The CTO Playbook

56: 14 Things Great CTOs Stop Doing (And You Should Too)

5 snips
Aug 11, 2025
Great CTOs are made by unlearning bad habits. Learn why overstuffing your calendar stifles strategic thinking. Find out the importance of delegating decisions, not just tasks. Discover how clear communication of company vision boosts team alignment. Hear why chasing every new trend can hinder innovation and how overusing jargon can dilute your authority. Explore the surprising connection between avoiding trade-offs and leadership gridlock, and get tips on embracing mistakes as part of the innovation process.
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ANECDOTE

Protect Thinking Time

  • Adam Horner had to persuade CTOs to take a weekly thinking block and saw huge changes in clarity.
  • Take two hours each week to work on the business, not in it.
ADVICE

Align Work To Company Goals

  • Review company goals regularly and stop executing work that doesn't move the needle.
  • Ask yourself whether what you're doing actually matters to the company's strategy.
ANECDOTE

Delegate Decisions, Not Tasks

  • A CTO I coached delegated many tasks but kept every decision and was near burnout.
  • Begin delegating whole problems and outcomes, not just checklists.
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