There’s this quote from a series I watched a long time ago. The main character is put in charge of a company, and he goes through a complicated growth period where he says (and I’m paraphrasing), “It’s my duty to protect the workers and make the right decisions.” That resonated with me a lot. As a technology leader, it’s my duty to make sure I make good decisions alongside the stakeholders, founders, and executives at any company I work at.
I’m not perfect, and I’ll make mistakes, but I also rely heavily on the feedback from the people I manage and my peers to make informed decisions. While I still have to make technical decisions, a lot of my decision-making process relies on the expertise of others in the company.
Listening is a big part of my day-to-day work. This reminds me of two movies I watched a long time ago by the same director, where there is almost no dialogue – they’re pretty much modern silent movies. One of the movies examines the inherent flaws and virtues in human nature, exploring how individuals evolve through their experiences and mistakes. The other movie explores the power of non-verbal communication, suggesting that true understanding and connection can transcend words.
The parallels between these two movies and my day-to-day work are striking. I will make mistakes, and I have to be okay with it. There is no shame in admitting what I know and what I don’t know. My career path is one of continuous learning, improvement, and growth. In a world dominated by virtual meetings, I need to be able to see reactions to the things I say and try to gauge whether what I said makes sense or has created more confusion. I always have my camera on – I want people to see what I’m saying and how I’m saying it just as much as I need others to do the same. That’s not to say that I need this to happen always, but I do need to read the room (or read the air, as some languages phrase it).
Reflecting on these movies reminds me of an anecdote from several years ago when I was interviewing at a big Canadian company. The person who interviewed me was excited to tell me that they were going to hire 500 people in the next several months. My first set of questions was, “Who will take care of these people, who will manage them, who will they report to, and how will you make sure you don’t negatively affect the work happening now?” (which ties into the first movie’s theme). I also asked, “What will they be working on and why are so many people required all at once?” (mirroring the second movie’s theme). Then I had to sit there and gauge the look on their face as I asked these questions (echoing the third movie’s theme). I still think about that interview.
Before I joined Cascade, Michael Shum got ahead of a lot of these questions and learnings right off the bat. He let me know that we’d be growing strategically and that every person’s role needed to be well-defined (relating to the second movie). He didn’t think we’d become a 100-person company because we needed smart workers, not just hard workers (reflecting the first movie). Finally, he emphasized that everyone has a say and everyone has a stake, and we need to grow as a team (tying into the third movie). Hook, line, and sinker.
These three movies illustrate key aspects of my professional journey. The first movie’s theme of dealing with inherent flaws and virtues in human nature reflects my acknowledgment of making mistakes and learning from them. The second movie’s exploration of non-verbal communication resonates with my need to understand and be understood beyond words, especially in a virtual work environment. Lastly, the third movie’s emphasis on reading reactions parallels my approach to gauging feedback and ensuring clarity in my communication. This blend of introspection, continuous learning, and effective communication shapes my leadership style and guides my decision-making process.
If you want to know the name of the series, let me know, and I can share it with you.