Running a successful IT consulting and software development company in India has its share of challenges, and sometimes unexpected lessons come from the most unlikely sources. In my journey as a CEO, I encountered a situation that compelled me to step into the shoes of a coder, shedding light on valuable lessons that have since shaped my approach to leadership.
At my Company Rudvar, we have been helping companies build their software products and consulting them out of their toughest product challenges. I have been assisting startups for more than six years, but this situation was different. I have always felt more energized than I did with this challenge.
So without any delays let's get started:
The Hiring Mistake:
A few years ago, when my company was still in its infancy, I made a crucial mistake in hiring. I brought on board developers who, as it turned out, were less committed and enthusiastic than their resumes suggested.
Since we were in the beginning, I wanted to take less risk. That led me to hire my friends from college. To be true, it's fine to hire friends but there was one thing that I missed. That was to be strict when the commitment was not made.
The reluctance among the team members affected the project timelines and left me in a tight spot when it came to meeting deadlines.
Nevertheless, I figured out a master plan and solved this problem like a pro. I described the solution under the Solution section of this blog.
The Broken Promises:
The developers consistently assured me that they would deliver on time, providing reassurance that everything was under control.
Remember, money can be earned again and time can be regained, but trust, once lost, cannot be regained. I had the basic idea of delegating the tasks to my team so that I could focus on the business perspective. But I got to know it's not a good idea, especially when the team is new.
However, as the deadline approached, communication from their end dwindled, and panic set in. It became apparent that the promises made were nothing more than empty words, leaving the project's fate hanging in the balance.
The CEO Turns Coder:
I had a strong background in software development, I had spent a solid 5 years building scalable products.
Faced with an imminent deadline and a team that had gone silent, I found myself in uncharted territory — coding to ensure the project’s completion.
As the CEO, taking on a coding role was not part of the plan, but circumstances dictated otherwise. It was a challenging experience, but it came with a silver lining — a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of software development.
Lessons Learned:
Presence of a Product Manager: I saw a rage on the internet that the AI tools will replace Product Managers. But the fact is AI tools will never take accountability. Nor will they push the team to complete the deliveries before deadlines. However, a product manager will communicate, re-assign tasks efficiently, and make sure that the things are delivered on time.
Hiring Wisely: Don't be afraid to fire employees. I have seen this fear quite common among fellow CEOs. We fear the concept of hiring new employees and love to get comfortable with existing employees. The importance of a thorough hiring process cannot be overstated. Ensuring that team members are skilled and aligned with the company’s values is crucial for a successful collaboration.
Effective Communication: Transparent and consistent communication is the backbone of any project. Keeping an open line with the team, clients, and stakeholders can prevent misunderstandings and potential setbacks.
Adaptability: In the dynamic world of business, adaptability is key. As a CEO, being ready to step into unexpected roles and wear different hats can be the differentiator between success and failure. I had 2 options, either I hire someone new on short notice or jump into the task myself to save money. I went with the 1st option of hiring someone new. But just before the hiring, I realized that the learning curve was huge, given the time we had it would have been impossible for someone to get comfortable with the code and deliver within time. So I had to adapt to the responsibility of coding.
Empathy for Team Members: Understanding the challenges faced by the team fosters a positive work environment. Recognizing their efforts and addressing concerns can build trust and enhance collaboration. But remember the world is cruel they will take your empathy for granted. So it's sometimes important to be strict.
Continuous Learning: This was a great learning for me. I changed the way I used to work. I was empathic to my team like before, but dead serious about deadlines too. I made this clear to the team that a lapse of deadline won't be tolerated. If team members think that there is a potential roadblock that can cause a delay, then that needs to be communicated before the deadline. I added a product manager loop into our delivery system, to analyze a possible threat of lapse. We have retrospects more often than before.
While being forced to code as a CEO was a challenging experience, it brought about valuable lessons that have since shaped my leadership style.
My suggestion: As a CEO, you guys need to make sure that the team understands the value of deadlines. As your team grows, we must make sure that the team grows as well. But make sure that the risk analysis is done beforehand. Either handle that yourself or hire a product manager.
Although we were able to deliver stuff in time. The journey taught me the importance of hiring wisely, effective communication, adaptability, empathy for team members, and the significance of continuous learning. As leaders, embracing unforeseen challenges can lead to personal growth and contribute to the entire team's success.
At Rudvar, we help companies build their software products and consult them out of their toughest product challenges.
If you think there’s a possible match between your requirements and our services then feel free to mail us at abhi@surgestartup.com or reach me out at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishekpatnaik77/
I would love to hear from you, till that time take Care!
Peace!
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