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Staying Hands-On as a Director of Engineering

When I first stepped into the role of Director of Engineering, I had to come to terms with a hard truth: my schedule was no longer that of a “maker.” Between one-on-ones, leadership syncs, planning sessions, and cross-functional meetings, my calendar became fragmented beyond repair. The reality is that, as a director, you cannot rely on having long, uninterrupted blocks of time to write meaningful amounts of production code. And honestly, trying to force it usually results in frustration—for you and for your team.

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Why Your Team Feels Stuck — and What to Do About It

Over the years I’ve learned that when a team feels stuck because they are constantly busy but not moving fast the answer isn’t more effort but better focus.

I’ve seen talented engineers grind through backlog after backlog, push late nights, automate everything in sight and still, somehow, progress stalls. Features pile up waiting to ship. Bugs reappear. Morale dips. And everyone wonders: What’s going wrong?

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Outcomes vs. Output: The Leadership Mindset Shift That Matters Most in Engineering

As a Director of Software Engineering, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the distinction between output and outcomes. It’s not just a matter of semantics; it’s a mindset shift that defines the difference between being busy and being effective, between a high-velocity team and a high-impact team.

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The Buck Stops Here: Why Ownership Builds Better Engineering Teams

In any software engineering organization—whether a fast-moving startup or an enterprise-scale platform—leadership style doesn’t just shape the culture; it defines it. And when things go wrong (which they will), how leaders respond sets the tone for how teams grow, communicate, and deliver.

Over the years, I’ve seen two dramatically different approaches play out: one where leaders instinctively point fingers when things go off the rails, and one where leaders step up and say, “The buck stops here.” The difference between these styles is more than philosophy—it’s a deciding factor in whether your team thrives or erodes under pressure.

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