DEV Community: Kovid Batra

Our Substack Been Hacked!

Kovid Batra — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:22:46 +0000

Let’s Get Started
Before we dive into our Substack growth strategy, let us give credit for this week’s CTO diary to our marketing team who insisted on sharing their thoughts on -hacking Substack for the first 1500 subscribers & enable engineers & leaders like you to build your brand.

Our team is passionate about the role of personal branding and effective communication in career advancement. By showcasing the potential of Substack, we aim to illustrate how tech leaders & engineers like you can broaden their influence, share their expertise, and engage with a wider audience.

Engineers and CTOs are often pigeonholed into roles defined by coding and efficiency. While these technical skills are essential, today’s tech leaders are also recognized for their ability to communicate effectively, build personal brands, and shape industry conversations.

Let’s delve into how engineers can harness the power of Substack, inspired by insights from the groCTO community.

To read the full newsletter - https://grocto.substack.com/p/our-substack-been-hacked

Newsletter #18 is out!

Kovid Batra — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:31:21 +0000

🎙️James Charlesworth from Pendo | Product vs Engineering: Building Bridges, Not Walls

In our latest podcast episode with James Charlesworth, Director of Engineering from Pendo, hosted by Kovid Batra, we dive into some essential insights for tech leaders. We discuss how bridging the ‘Product vs Engineering’ gap with empathy can foster collaboration, the value of frequent 1-on-1s in building trust within teams, & practical tips for introverts in the tech industry. This conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you lead your teams more effectively.

To read the whole newsletter, click here - https://grocto.substack.com/p/product-vs-engineering-neglecting

Building the Right Thing, AI Tooling & Minimizing Cognitive Load

Kovid Batra — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:30:00 +0000

🎙️Tune into Vladislav Maličević, CTO at Jedox: Build vs Buy debate
📈 Jedox's Evolution: Carving Out Market Space explores the role of open source, cloud transition, and pivotal decisions. Tune in as guest Vladislav Maličević and host Kovid Batra discuss Vlad’s 20-year journey at Jedox, along with insights on building vs. outsourcing and more.

Catch the full episode along with a curated sunday newsletter below!

How to Stay Relevant as an Engineering Leader? End the Dilemma

Kovid Batra — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:59:08 +0000

Transitioning from hands-on coding to leading teams can be challenging, but here are 5 ways to stay relevant explained by Rohan Jha, Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft

Keep Learning, but Be Strategic 📚: Focus on key technologies relevant to your team's work and use learning platforms like Coursera or Pluralsight.
Pair Programming with Your Team 🤝: Stay close to coding practices and understand team challenges by participating in pair programming.
Contribute to Code Reviews 📝: Engage in code reviews to stay updated on code and architecture decisions and learn from your team.
Lead Technical Discussions & Architecture Reviews 🗣️: Guide architectural decisions and stay curious to remain connected with technical aspects.
Get Involved in Side Projects or Open Source 🚀: Experiment and stay hands-on through side projects and open-source contributions to stay at the cutting edge of technology.

For the full article, check the link in the comments.

Our inbox is overflowing with gratitude!

Kovid Batra — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 16:14:10 +0000

Our hearts are full from the wonderful feedback we've received from the engineering leader who attended his 1:1 mentorship session—our inbox is overflowing with gratitude! 👏

By the way, if you’re thinking about booking a session for yourself, groCTO is the way to go!

Note: Mentor's name might be changed due to privacy reasons.

What it takes for a growth-stage startup to grow?

Kovid Batra — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:49:30 +0000

Growing a startup is like building a plane while flying it; the trick is to not lose your cool at 30,000 feet.

At groCTO, we spoke to Nitesh Chandel, Head of Engineering at Typo AI, about the challenges faced by startups transitioning from the initial phase to the growth stage and here’s what he shared :

“As startups transition from their initial phase to growth stage, they encounter a unique set of challenges. Navigating these hurdles successfully defines the difference between scaling up and dying. While being a part of many such stories in my engineering career, I figured there are certain tough decisions that need to be made by the engineering leaders at a daily level to ensure they are cruising at the speed they want to” - Nitesh

Velocity vs Quality
The Challenge:
In the competitive startup environment, the pressure to deliver new features and products quickly is immense. However, this rush can lead to technical debt and compromised quality, which might not be sustainable in the long run.

How to navigate?
Adopt agile methodologies: Implementing agile practices allows for iterative development, where teams can deliver small, incremental updates. This helps in balancing speed with quality by providing regular opportunities for testing and feedback.

Invest in automated testing: Automation can significantly reduce the time required for regression testing, ensuring that new changes do not break existing functionality. This speeds up the development process while maintaining high-quality standards.

Foster a culture of code reviews: Regular peer code reviews can help catch potential issues early, ensure coding standards are maintained, and promote knowledge sharing within the team.

Manage tech debt proactively : Allocate time in each sprint for addressing technical debt. This ensures that it does not accumulate to a point where it hampers future development velocity.

Big vs Small Projects
The Challenge:
Deciding whether to focus on large, transformative projects or smaller, incremental ones is a common dilemma. Large projects can drive significant growth but come with higher risks, while smaller projects are easier to manage but might not have the same impact.

How to navigate?
Maintain a balanced portfolio: Diversify your project portfolio by balancing big and small projects. This helps in managing risk while ensuring steady progress and innovation.

Start with an MVP: For large projects, begin with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test the waters. This approach allows you to validate ideas with minimal investment and iteratively improve based on feedback.

Break down big projects: Decompose large projects into smaller, manageable phases. This not only makes them more manageable but also allows for regular assessment and adaptation.

Leverage customer feedback: Regularly gather and incorporate customer feedback. This ensures that both big and small projects are aligned with market needs and deliver real value to users.

People vs Processes
The Challenge:
As startups grow, the need for more formalized processes becomes apparent. However, too much bureaucracy can kill creativity and slow down decision-making.

How to navigate?

Implement scalable processes: Create processes that are lightweight and scalable. They should provide structure but remain flexible enough to adapt as the organisation grows.
Empower teams: Encourage a culture of autonomy where teams are empowered to make decisions within a defined framework. This promotes ownership and accelerates decision-making.
Invest in continuous learning: Provide opportunities for continuous learning and development. This keeps the team’s skills updated and fosters a culture of growth and improvement.
Hire for cultural fit: Beyond technical skills, hiring individuals who align with the company’s culture ensures that the team remains cohesive and motivated, even as it expands.

Last words
Navigating the growth stage successfully requires a delicate balance between speed and quality, people and processes, and the scale of projects. By implementing agile practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and maintaining a balanced project portfolio, engineering leaders can steer their startups through these challenges. Remember, the key is to remain adaptable, continuously iterate, and always keep the end goal in sight.

Would love to hear what challenges have you encountered during your startup’s growth stage -share your experiences and strategies in the comments below. Let’s grow together!

Get Me a Mentor!

Kovid Batra — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:26:02 +0000

Let us help you find an empathetic, experienced, and exceptional mentor at groCTO!

Start by scheduling a 15-minute quick introductory call with one of our groCTO experts. During this call:
💬 We’ll discuss your mentorship goals.
💬 We'll explore what you're looking for in a mentor.
💬 We’ll help shortlist or match you with the perfect mentor for your needs.

Please note: We carefully select individuals for our 1:1 mentorship program to ensure alignment with our values and goals.

You can find the scheduling link in the comments section!
PS - The first session with your mentor is complimentary.

Coaching Teams Through Change, Prioritising User Value, 12 Signs of Difficult Engineers

Kovid Batra — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:30:13 +0000

🙏 Points of inspiration, reading picks, and much more for a perfect Sunday ⤵️

🎙️In Conversation with Sergio Visinoni on Maslow’s Hierarchy for Tech Teams

Sergio Visinoni joins podcast episode hosted by Kovid Batra. As a visionary Fractional CTO, Tech Advisor, and now, a mentor at groCTO Community, Sergio discusses reimagining Maslow’s hierarchy for tech and business teams, covering its creation, levels and benefits, how it serves tech and business needs, implementation challenges, and key takeaways on data-driven decision-making.

Article of the Week ⭐ “Leaders should listen to their people, let them vent, keep calm, and not react. They should explain what’s going to happen, the business rationale behind the change, and the benefits of the change.“ — Dr. Milan Milanović

How to coach people through the Change Curve Dr. Milan has a special place in tech: As both a CTO and active High-performance Coach he has a unique perspective on bringing on change in technology organizations that isn’t just your usual bread-and-butter agile implementations and metrics.

His article on the Change Curve is a metaphors to capture how listening and understanding act as key components in any 1-on-1 situation, be it as a manager, mentor, coach or facilitator.

The Change Curve Originally developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, describes the emotional journey individuals go through when facing change. The stages include:

Denial: Initial shock and disbelief about the change. Self-criticism: Feelings of anger or betrayal as reality sets in. Confusion: Overwhelm and disengagement, with attempts to avoid the change.

Read the full newsletter here - https://grocto.substack.com/p/coaching-teams-through-change-prioritising

170+ Attendees! Thanks to Typo!

Kovid Batra — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:10:54 +0000

Hello All! Day before's DORA webinar was a huge success! 170+ Attendees! Thanks to Typo!

An incredible turnout of attendees joined us in decoding the hows and whats of DORA metrics. We at Typo are humbled to have helped so many engineers & engineering leaders take the first step toward building high-performing dev teams 🚀

And for those who missed it, don't worry! The recording link is here -
https://lnkd.in/gkwwq-_S

Lastly, a massive thank you to my amazing co-hosts, Nathen Harvey, DORA lead Google Cloud, and Ido Shveki, VP RnD BeeHero for sharing their invaluable insights.

PS- Stay tuned. For more DORA deep dives in our next webinar session with the DORA expert, Bryan Finster from Defense Unicorns, later this month!

170+ Attendees! Thanks to Typo!

Kovid Batra — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:09:40 +0000

Hello All! Day before's DORA webinar was a huge success! 170+ Attendees! Thanks to Typo!

And for those who missed it, don't worry! The recording link is here -
https://lnkd.in/gkwwq-_S

Lastly, a massive thank you to my amazing co-hosts, Nathen Harvey, DORA lead Google Cloud, and Ido Shveki, VP RnD BeeHero for sharing their invaluable insights.

PS- Stay tuned. For more DORA deep dives in our next webinar session with the DORA expert, Bryan Finster from Defense Unicorns, later this month!

What was your win this week?

Kovid Batra — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 05:29:50 +0000

We got an amazing open rate on our Substack, and some great folks recommended us well.

Substcak link - https://grocto.substack.com/

Why Isn’t My Manager Listening?

Kovid Batra — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 05:24:14 +0000

How engineers and developers can influence their manager and push their ideas!

As engineers or developers, you often have valuable ideas and insights that can significantly impact your projects and team. However, it’s not uncommon to encounter situations where your manager seems uninterested or unresponsive to your suggestions. Understanding why this happens and learning how to effectively influence your manager can help you advocate for your ideas and contribute to your team’s success. Here’s a detailed guide on how to address this challenge:

Understanding Why Your Manager Isn’t Listening : Before addressing the issue, it’s important to understand why your manager might not be receptive:

Overloaded with Tasks: Your manager may have a high volume of responsibilities and limited bandwidth to explore every idea in depth.
Misaligned Priorities: Your idea might not align with the current priorities or immediate goals of the team or company.
Different Communication Styles: Managers may have different ways of processing information or communicating, which might affect how they perceive your idea.
Lack of Technical Context: If your manager doesn’t fully grasp the technical details or implications of your idea, they might not see its value.
Resistance to Change: Some managers are hesitant to embrace new ideas, especially if they involve significant changes or risks.

Strategies to Influence Your Manager : Here are some effective strategies to help you push your ideas and influence your manager:

Understand Their Perspective
Learn about your manager’s goals, challenges, and current priorities. Tailor your idea to fit their objectives and demonstrate how it aligns with their vision. Understanding their perspective can help you present your proposal in a way that resonates with them.
Build a Strong Business Case
Support your idea with data and evidence. Use metrics, research, or case studies to demonstrate the benefits and potential impact of your proposal. Highlight how your idea can solve a specific problem, improve performance, or add value to the project or organization.
Choose the Right Timing
Timing is crucial. Avoid presenting your idea during busy periods or high-stress times. Instead, find a suitable time when your manager is likely to be more receptive. Consider discussing your idea in one-on-one meetings or during less hectic periods.
Communicate Clearly and Concisely
Present your idea in a clear and organized manner. Use straightforward language and avoid technical jargon that may not be familiar to your manager. Structure your presentation logically: state the problem, propose your solution, and explain the benefits.
Seek Feedback and Build Support
Before pitching your idea to your manager, seek feedback from peers or other stakeholders. They can offer valuable insights and help you refine your proposal. Building internal support can also make your idea more compelling when you present it to your manager.
Be Open to Feedback
Show that you’re open to constructive feedback and willing to adjust your idea based on input from your manager. Demonstrating flexibility and a collaborative approach can help build trust and increase the likelihood of your idea being accepted.
Show Proven Results
If possible, provide examples or data from previous projects where similar ideas have succeeded. Show how your proposal could lead to positive outcomes, and if you’ve already implemented parts of your idea, share those results.
Align with Manager’s Goals
Link your proposal to your manager’s personal or departmental goals. Show how your idea can help them achieve their targets or enhance their success. When managers see a direct benefit to their own objectives, they are more likely to consider your ideas.
Be Persistent Yet Respectful
If your initial attempt doesn’t succeed, don’t be discouraged. Continue to advocate for your idea respectfully and professionally. Use feedback to refine your approach and keep engaging in a constructive dialogue.
Building a Positive Relationship
Developing a strong, positive relationship with your manager can make it easier to influence them. Maintain open and honest communication, understand their needs, and demonstrate reliability and competence in your work. A good working relationship can foster an environment where your ideas are more likely to be heard and considered.

Conclusion :
Navigating the challenges of getting your manager to listen to your ideas requires a thoughtful approach. By understanding their perspective, presenting a strong business case, and communicating effectively, you can improve your chances of having your ideas heard and implemented. Building a positive relationship with your manager and demonstrating persistence and flexibility are also key to successfully influencing decision-making.

By applying these strategies, you can better advocate for your innovative ideas and contribute meaningfully to your team’s success.