One sixth of 2018 is about to pass, how many of your KPIs have you achieved?
Don't be discouraged, in fact, what I want to say is: as a technical manager, instead of staring at the KPI in front of you, it is better to look into the distance. In 2017, the TGO Kunpeng Club published a number of CTO articles and speech records. Today, we will take a look at their "CTO basic skills". If you are still on the road to becoming an excellent CTO, you may wish to read this summary to make up for your shortcomings and embrace a great future.
technical vision
It's not just the latest operating systems, hardware or programming languages that the CTO needs to focus on. He also needs to understand what development methodologies, test procedures, and platform architectures have proven effective and can benefit your business growth.
CTOs must have a good technical vision, and they do not need to be proficient in all kinds of technologies, but they must be all involved. Because only by understanding the development trends and application scenarios of various technical fields, can a perfect "technical world view" be constructed. What technology should be applied in what scenario, and what technical reserves should be made in advance when the company's business develops to a scale, these problems will naturally be solved. Only in this way can we ensure the high efficiency of current development while leaving room for expansion for the evolution of future product architectures.
technical background
The most important and critical factor in successfully managing an engineer is gaining the technical respect of the subordinates you manage. You first need a deep understanding of the tools, processes, and art of programming they use. The deeper the understanding, the stronger the ability to participate in technical dialogues with subordinate engineers, and the easier it is to gain their respect. If there is no technical respect, then each of your specific ideas may encounter active or passive obstacles.
The background accumulated in the technology industry is very helpful for the CTO's work. If you have hands-on work experience rotating around the various roles of the product development cycle, you can gain a solid understanding of how different teams, structures, and products interact.
Team management
A CTO who works overtime all day is by no means a good CTO. The responsibility of the CTO is to be responsible for the product realization of the entire company. Therefore, the CTO must be good at managing the R&D team, control the progress of the R&D work, and be able to complete the R&D of the company's products within the planned time step by step. Always delaying the project progress, or always working overtime to complete the project progress can only show that the CTO's ability to manage the project is insufficient.
In addition, excellent CTOs tend to focus on the cultivation and research and development of echelon strength, and establish a centripetal, open, and exchange-learning organizational culture. This kind of R&D team is not only extremely powerful, but also has a strong sense of belonging. Even if employees in key positions are lost, suitable talents can be found from the R&D echelon.
build culture
CTOs also need to focus on the technology sector and the culture of the business as a whole. As a member of the company's top management, the CTO has the opportunity and responsibility to create a culture of innovation, collaboration and pride. If the corporate culture is technology-oriented, it aligns with the corporate strategic plan and contributes to the success of the entire team. The sense of belonging of employees driven by corporate culture can also retain talents and further attract suitable talents to join the team.
CTO is not only a mirror for technicians to see their own future development, but also a channel for the company to precipitate its own culture. Creating a good corporate culture is inseparable from the enthusiasm for team building and the leadership of newcomers. As a CTO, there are many opportunities to share your experience and your knowledge of the business and industry with colleagues.
product awareness
The CTO must not only understand technology, but also have a good feeling for Internet products. From the perspective of product logic and achievability, he should put forward an overall vision for product improvement and improvement.
Because the products envisaged by product managers or business personnel are likely to be logically imprecise or even difficult to achieve. At this time, if the CTO does not get involved in the research and development, there will be loopholes everywhere after the product is actually developed. It is also a CTO's responsibility to use his professional ability to understand Internet products, deduce the realization logic of products, and revise and improve product ideas in general.
Technology is not the more advanced the better, but the better it can meet the needs of customers. The choice of technology should be compatible with the resources that the company can invest in, and if the appropriate technology, product and market positioning are selected, the development efficiency will be improved, and the risk will be reduced accordingly. The CTO has to handle this degree.
Communication skills
When it comes to technology, the CTO has the most complete information and is therefore responsible for communication and coordination within the company.
First, the CTO must maintain smooth communication channels and relationships with the CEO. Regarding the CEO's ideas, the CTO has the responsibility to help the CEO to correct, deduce and improve the ideas from a more professional perspective.
The second is the management of the senior management team. Including COO, CMO, VP of Sales, VP of Marketing, HRD and more. Make sure there is no strategic divergence between R&D and marketing sales operations.
Then there is the communication with the R&D team. Including technical vice president, PMO, product, R&D, operation and maintenance and other directors at all levels. Make sure there are no departmental walls between them, wasting company efficiency and resources.
The last is the communication with managers and key employees. Make sure they get the right information and decisions to do the right job.
Charisma
The CTO's role in an enterprise is often external, especially when interacting directly with customers. So, not only sales teams and account managers need to be good at communicating, but CTOs should also have some "soft skills" in social skills to deal with existing and potential customers.
In addition to being easy-going, empathetic, and understanding market and industry needs, CTOs must also learn to explain complex technology concepts in simple terms so that others can understand these concepts and how they relate to them.
There must be a lot of people who don't know much about the technology industry on a client's boardroom table. As a CTO, you should cooperate with the sales team and become the "big magnet" that attracts customers, and is the highlight of signing customers.
missionary spirit
The CTO must be able to inspire internal members around the company's vision, while at the same time convincing the outside world that this is the future of the world and that his/her company is the best choice to lead everyone into that future. CTO is the technical face of a company and the representative of its technical image. CTOs with a technical background are generally not good at in-depth communication with people, which is why this ability is more important.
A CTO who is active in the public eye will seize every opportunity to speak, talk, interview and publish to promote his business, products and achievements in technology. This type of CTO has the opportunity to become the "leader" of industry inspiration, which is also of great benefit to the promotion of enterprises and products.