Instinctual time-saving wastes the most time. In most organisations, there's a contradiction. There's no time to provide clear direction but the time lack of direction wastes is tolerated. How can leaders break the cycle?

In most organisations, there's a contradiction. There's no time to provide clear direction but the time lack of direction wastes is tolerated. How can leaders break the cycle?

Odd contradiction: Focusing only on delivery optimisation is sometimes enough Outcome thinking gives big benefits. So much so it's easy to become dogmatic. It's important to acknowledge that sometimes a delivery focus can support fast learning, too.

Outcome thinking gives big benefits. So much so it's easy to become dogmatic. It's important to acknowledge that sometimes a delivery focus can support fast learning, too.

Anti-pattern: OKRs as bureaucratic red-tape There's plenty of pushback to OKRs and there are plenty of examples where OKRs have become yet another bureaucratic process step to getting something done.

There's plenty of pushback to OKRs and there are plenty of examples where OKRs have become yet another bureaucratic process step to getting something done.

Learning prioritised: How we used 'Boot camps' for newly formed teams To complement the dynamic reteaming approach used to restructure, we supported newly established teams with multi-day onboarding activities we called 'boot camps'. Here's what we did.

To complement the dynamic reteaming approach used to restructure, we supported newly established teams with multi-day onboarding activities we called 'boot camps'. Here's what we did.

Applying strategic thinking to applications of AI in the AI gold rush CTOs are grappling with the AI gold rush and making choices about participating. Here are some things to consider.

CTOs are grappling with the AI gold rush and making choices about participating. Here are some things to consider.

CTO: The most demanding position in the modern enterprise Technology appears to be progressing exponentially, users are more demanding and CTOs find themselves on the backfoot. CTOs need help, here's why.

Technology appears to be progressing exponentially, users are more demanding and CTOs find themselves on the backfoot. CTOs need help, here's why.

Santa wears red, white and black, right? The example of Santa is one of examining truth and traditions. How might Santa help us confront assumptions in the workplace?

The example of Santa is one of examining truth and traditions. How might Santa help us confront assumptions in the workplace?

Atlassian’s release of AI features might lack strategy. Atlassian made a major release announcement of a range of AI capabilities integrated into products across their development tool suite. It's underwhelming, here's where I think they went wrong.

Atlassian made a major release announcement of a range of AI capabilities integrated into products across their development tool suite. It's underwhelming, here's where I think they went wrong.

Comparing approaches of present and future focus in organisations Different approaches to how work happens in organisations significantly impact the effectiveness of prioritisation and the value of the work itself. Here are the effects of each approach.

Different approaches to how work happens in organisations significantly impact the effectiveness of prioritisation and the value of the work itself. Here are the effects of each approach.

Edited: Unchallenged assumptions #1 Hierarchical reporting structure Hierarchical reporting structure is an unchallenged assumption, the top-down tree-like structure used in most companies. What is it, why does it exist and when does a different approach help?

Hierarchical reporting structure is an unchallenged assumption, the top-down tree-like structure used in most companies. What is it, why does it exist and when does a different approach help?

Unchallenged assumption #2 Functional separation Functional separation is closely related to a Hierarchical reporting structure. Knowing where there's inertia and the assumptions that lead to it is a good starting point for change.

Functional separation is closely related to a Hierarchical reporting structure. Knowing where there's inertia and the assumptions that lead to it is a good starting point for change.

Unchallenged assumption #3 Projects are the means of doing work The desire for consistency may lead to trying to apply Project Management approaches to all manner of work, whether appropriate or not. Let's examine.

The desire for consistency may lead to trying to apply Project Management approaches to all manner of work, whether appropriate or not. Let's examine.

Learning comes from struggle Earlier in his career, Noah Cantor struggled at a new company, working differently from others he'd experienced. Overcoming that struggle was an inflection point in his career. Here's why.

Earlier in his career, Noah Cantor struggled at a new company, working differently from others he'd experienced. Overcoming that struggle was an inflection point in his career. Here's why.

Unchallenged assumption #4 Project-based funding Project-based funding is over-used and spending often becomes disconnected from its purpose. Let's look at how it works, the assumptions and what alternatives there are.

Project-based funding is over-used and spending often becomes disconnected from its purpose. Let's look at how it works, the assumptions and what alternatives there are.

Unchallenged assumption #5 Individual performance management Individual performance management can create incentives that put people in conflict with the goals of their team, which can lead to friction. What can be done?

Individual performance management can create incentives that put people in conflict with the goals of their team, which can lead to friction. What can be done?

Unchallenged assumption #6 Managers hire for their area It seems logical that each manager hire for their area. But sometimes situations call for a different approach. Why and when?

It seems logical that each manager hire for their area. But sometimes situations call for a different approach. Why and when?

Aligning on goals using OKRs (summaries of my top goal-setting/OKR posts) One topic I've covered in reasonable detail in this publication is goal setting using OKRs. This post summarises my posts on this topic, helpful for new and long term subscribers.

One topic I've covered in reasonable detail in this publication is goal setting using OKRs. This post summarises my posts on this topic, helpful for new and long term subscribers.

Getting support for Technical Improvement Many technology leaders I meet struggle to gain support for improvements necessary for the organisation's long-term health. Here's why it's hard and an opportunity to find better ways.

Many technology leaders I meet struggle to gain support for improvements necessary for the organisation's long-term health. Here's why it's hard and an opportunity to find better ways.

Unchallenged assumption #7 Categorical organisation of strategy A slide pack featuring five strategic pillars has become a trope in the enterprise. It should be called out for what it is - bad practice that does harm. Here's why.

A slide pack featuring five strategic pillars has become a trope in the enterprise. It should be called out for what it is - bad practice that does harm. Here's why.

Estimation does not help us learn how well our software will meet its aims; putting software into use does. Software Estimation is a response to a range of often unexamined questions, and it's rarely the best answer to any. Yet many hold onto it like a life preserver. Why it falls short and alternatives.

Software Estimation is a response to a range of often unexamined questions, and it's rarely the best answer to any. Yet many hold onto it like a life preserver. Why it falls short and alternatives.

Attention CTOs: For the next 10 days I am offering 10 free coaching sessions. I've had a long career in technology leadership. I've faced many challenges and overcome them. I love to coach and share what I learned. Here's how I pay it forward.

I've had a long career in technology leadership. I've faced many challenges and overcome them. I love to coach and share what I learned. Here's how I pay it forward.

Alternatives to Software Estimation: First, know what problem you are trying to solve. One problem with software estimation; it is deployed by default, an assumed part of the development process. A way to challenge such defaults is to get specific on what problem we are trying to solve.

One problem with software estimation; it is deployed by default, an assumed part of the development process. A way to challenge such defaults is to get specific on what problem we are trying to solve.

Are OKRs Management Malpractice?' Part 5: How practitioners and OKR experts recommend OKRs be practised is poorly understood outside those circles. There's been an evolution of OKRs are recommended to be practiced over the last decade but this shift is more apparent within the OKR practitioner community than beyond.

There's been an evolution of OKRs are recommended to be practiced over the last decade but this shift is more apparent within the OKR practitioner community than beyond.

How 'The Accidental CIO' book can help CTO/CIOs (and a giveaway!) Scott Millett's journey to CIO is not too dissimilar to my own. A new role with new expectations and responsibilities led to learning. Let's explore some of the insights from his book.

Scott Millett's journey to CIO is not too dissimilar to my own. A new role with new expectations and responsibilities led to learning. Let's explore some of the insights from his book.

How a CTO can reduce friction amongst teams It's common for friction between groups of people and for malicious intent to be assumed when none exists. Directly identifying when this occurs and ways to address its causes can help.

It's common for friction between groups of people and for malicious intent to be assumed when none exists. Directly identifying when this occurs and ways to address its causes can help.

Using principles to help scale decision-making across the organisation Principles can help tip the scales in favour of decisions that affect the organisation's direction and are made at every level. Principles can help codify part of the organisation's strategy.

Principles can help tip the scales in favour of decisions that affect the organisation's direction and are made at every level. Principles can help codify part of the organisation's strategy.

Guiding principle: We will share our intentions early A guiding principle I have for leadership teams I've led and often also for the entire organisation, once leaders are 'walking the talk', is 'We will share our intentions early'. Here's why.

A guiding principle I have for leadership teams I've led and often also for the entire organisation, once leaders are 'walking the talk', is 'We will share our intentions early'. Here's why.

A mingling of cultures When three successful businesses come together

When three successful businesses come together

A new orthodoxy awaits us In the zeitgeist of product development, the hive mind is slowly, through repeated exploration, moulding a new orthodoxy. A set of…

In the zeitgeist of product development, the hive mind is slowly, through repeated exploration, moulding a new orthodoxy. A set of…

Thinking in terms of outcomes with OKRs OKRs are often described as helping organisation's to be outcome-oriented but the reality is many organisation's that use OKRs are not outcome-oriented. Why?

OKRs are often described as helping organisation's to be outcome-oriented but the reality is many organisation's that use OKRs are not outcome-oriented. Why?