Scaling Teams and Yourself, with Cate Huston

Key takeaways

Self-development is essential for effective leadership; leaders need to grow themselves to support their teams.
Coachability is a critical trait that enables personal and professional growth for both employees and managers.
Hiring practices should prioritize diversity and inclusivity over raising rigid hiring bars that may exclude valuable candidates.
Energy management can enhance productivity better than traditional time management.
Continuous learning and adaptability are vital in today’s fast-paced tech landscape.

Summary

Introduction to Kate Huston and Her Book

In this episode, Alan Pike welcomes back Kate Huston, the engineering director at DuckDuckGo and author of 'The Engineering Leader'. They discuss the themes of the book, which provides strategies for scaling teams and enhancing personal growth in leadership roles, referencing Kate's previous appearance on the show.

Self-Development and Leadership Growth

A key discussion revolves around the importance of self-growth for effective leadership. Kate emphasizes that to lead a successful team, leaders must first focus on their own development. This notion stems from the recognition that leaders need to be adaptable and continuously improve in order to manage and inspire their teams more effectively.

Understanding Coachability

Kate introduces the concept of coachability as a crucial trait for both individuals and their managers. Coachability encompasses the willingness to learn, accept feedback, and grow from experiences. Alan and Kate elaborate on how different people may exhibit varying levels of coachability in distinct areas.

Hiring Practices and Team Scaling

The conversation transitions to hiring practices, where Kate discusses the pitfalls of traditional 'raising the bar' in hiring. Instead, she encourages organizations to broaden their views on talent and look for diverse skill sets and backgrounds, rather than encouraging a homogenous workforce.

The Importance of Energy Management

Kate challenges the common focus on time management, advocating instead for energy management. She illustrates how recognizing one’s energy levels can lead to better productivity, suggesting that leaders should structure their tasks according to their personal energy cycles for optimal performance.

Conclusion and Resources

The episode wraps up with Kate sharing resources for her book and providing listeners with insights into continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced tech industry. Alan urges listeners to reflect on their own growth as they navigate their careers.

Show notes

Cate Huston joins to talk about her new book, The Engineering Leader. She shares why she wrote a book, leadership problems endemic to fast-growing organizations, why career growth is more than promotions, coachability, levelling up your hiring pipeline, how hiring “bars” can go wrong, and why energy management matters more than time management.<ul> <li><a href="https://www.itshipped.fm/episodes/4">It Shipped Ep. 4 with Cate Huston</a></li> <li>Cate’s new book, <a href="https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/the-engineering-leader/9781098154059/">The Engineering Leader</a></li> <li><a href="http://cate.blog">cate.blog</a></li> </ul> Have feedback for the show? Send an email or message to Allen any time. It Shipped That Way is supported by Steamclock Software and Powerplant.