𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻 𝗖𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
Becoming a CTO involves more than making technical decisions. It requires moving between big ideas and small details.
One minute I focus on architecture and business goals for Foodmartex. The next minute I sit with a developer to trace an API response or fix a broken user flow.
This contrast is rewarding.
Leadership is not just giving orders.
Many think technical leaders must have all the answers. My experience shows a different path. Leadership means:
- Providing direction.
- Asking the right questions.
- Working through problems alongside your team.
I do not take over when things get hard. My job is to provide clarity. I want my team to move forward with confidence. The goal is growth, not dependence.
The frontend reveals the truth.
A backend feature might look fine until a user tries to use it. This is when you find:
- Inconsistent API responses.
- Unclear status transitions.
- Missing validation.
- Confusing user journeys.
The frontend and backend are not separate products. They are one experience. If they do not communicate, the product fails. Users do not care where the error started. They only know it does not work.
I must also know when to step back.
When you can solve a problem quickly, you might want to jump in. Doing this fixes today's issue but stops your team from learning. I am learning to pause.
I ask myself:
- Does the developer need an answer?
- Do they need more context?
- Do they just need space to investigate?
Good leaders know when to lead, when to work beside the team, and when to get out of the way.
This role is shaping me. I am learning to listen, communicate, and stay close to the work. Leadership is not about being distant. It is about understanding challenges and letting others grow.
I am still learning. I am still building.
Source: https://dev.to/ogeobubu/what-being-a-hands-on-cto-is-teaching-me-about-leadership-1la3