Santosh Mahendra

A powerful team is never just a collection of individuals. There is extraordinary value in connections and relationships that are built over time. But how do you quantify these nuanced and dynamic traits? Here are some ideas: ✨ DORA Metrics: While primarily leveraged for assessing software delivery performance, DORA Metrics can offer insights into team efficiency and collaboration. Metrics like deployment frequency and lead time for changes are indirect indicators of how well a team operates together. 🌟 Net Promoter Score (NPS): Going beyond customer satisfaction, internally, NPS can be adapted to gauge team members' satisfaction and willingness to recommend their team to others. It captures engagement, morale, and overall sentiment within the team. ♻️ Feedback loops: How often is the team giving feedback to others? Tracking data points like these over time, and especially showing how changing the team impacts the data can tell a compelling story. It might give a clear voice to a nuanced understanding of the impact of changing the team when there are concerns for doing so. As a leader what metrics do you track to help you understand how change impacts a team?

2

🌟 The Superpower of Connecting the Dots: Thoughts on High Impact Communication 🌟 In my career at companies like Meta and Google, I learned that effective leaders possess a unique superpower: organizational awareness. This isn't just about having information; it's about connecting the dots across a complex organization to drive impactful efforts. 🚀 Consider this: On any given day, tech leaders spend 70 to 90 percent of their time communicating. Yet, effective communication is much more than mere information exchange—it’s about informing, influencing, and inspiring. 🗣️✨ Consider this common scenario in large organizations: multiple teams working in silos, unknowingly duplicating efforts on similar efforts. This is not merely about redundancy but represents a significant missed opportunity for collaboration. When leaders facilitate connections between these teams, allowing them to share insights and understand each other’s projects, the result is often a merging or improvement of projects. This not only enhances the outcomes but also improves organizational efficiency. Such strategic collaboration underscores the power of effective leadership in fostering organizational coherence and productivity. 🛠️🤝 This experience underscored a critical lesson: Great leaders don’t just operate within their teams; they have the vision to see beyond, identifying overlaps and opportunities across the organization. Here are some actionable insights for leaders aspiring to master this superpower: 1) Step back to see the big picture: Engage with different teams, join cross-departmental meetings, and keep abreast of broader organizational goals. 2) Communicate with context: Always provide the 'why' behind your messages. This not only informs but also empowers and aligns your team with the organization's vision. 3) Be a conduit, not a bottleneck: Share knowledge freely unless specifically instructed otherwise. Your team's trust in you grows when they see you as a source of valuable information. 4) Foster connections: Encourage your team to network within and beyond their immediate circles. This builds a more interconnected team and enhances problem-solving capabilities. Remember, information is plentiful, but the ability to connect the dots to form a clear, actionable picture is what sets true leaders apart. #TechLeadership #Communication #Teamwork #OrganizationalAwareness #Influence #Inspire

17

3 Comments

tldr: I'm hiring! As many of you know, I recently joined Lattice as their SVP of Engineering and I'm excited to announce that I'm hiring for all Engineering levels and more broadly, Lattice has open roles across EPD. If you're wondering, why Lattice? The last few years have seen a step change in how we think about the meaning of work and the employer <> employee relationship - add on the fuel of AI taking our jobs and you could be forgiven for thinking the future of work looks bleak for employees. It doesn't need to be that way - here at Lattice we're building the next generation of talent tools to give employers insights and employees purpose because people matter at work. Among other things, we're using generative AI to securely analyze enormous volumes of data to unlock career insights faster and investing in building equitable feedback, compensation and employer analytics tools - not just for one company but for all companies. If you're interested in making a difference to the future of work then let's chat - all roles are remote eligible and based in the US. We have physical offices in San Francisco and NYC if you prefer the in-office environment.

324

49 Comments

Recently, a colleague asked how to improve collaboration with a partner they historically didn't get along with. Here's what I shared: 🔭 Create a shared vision. Define common goals you both want to achieve. 🤝 Establish a 'social code' together. Agree on how you'll communicate, make decisions, and handle disagreements. 👂 Practice active listening. Seek to understand their perspective before responding. 💪 Focus on strengths. Identify what unique skills each person brings and leverage those. 🛡️ Build psychological safety. Make it okay to take risks and share ideas without fear of judgment. ⚖️ Hold each other accountable - respectfully. Give feedback on behaviors, not personality. 🎉 Celebrate wins together. Acknowledge progress and milestones, no matter how small. Great partnerships aren't born, they're built through intention and effort. What are your tips for improving difficult work relationships? #Collaboration #TechLeadership #TeamBuilding #Leadership

32

3 Comments

Last Tuesday, Malsgufa, our legacy CMS backend, was shut down. This milestone for BI's Tech and Product team culminated years of planning, effort, and execution. Malsgufa's first commit was on July 25, 2014, leading to 5,186 commits across nearly 30 repositories. Built and maintained by scores of engineers, its deprecation represents significant cost savings (20 production replicas, 3 instances of Solr, and an insane number of Zookeeper instances!), reduced security risk, and the elimination of an often-blamed boogeyman. The journey began in January 2020. Our challenge: moving traffic off Malsgufa without rebuilding everything in Muse. Initially, we tried GraphQL as an intermediary between Viking and our services, but progress was limited by Viking's complex Angular/Vue architecture. In January 2023, we pivoted to the strangler fig pattern with a shim. This approach proved far more effective – all Malsgufa traffic went through the shim first, with verbose logging to track unhandled requests. Meanwhile, we built Story Versioning API (SVAPI), incorporating lessons learned from Malsgufa's limitations around history and publishing states. We ran four major migrations (stories, custom pages, slideshows, and videos), building support in Muse and shimmed compatibility for Viking. Traffic gradually decreased from a torrent to a trickle, leading to the gloriously uneventful shutdown. Next, we will deprecate Viking by Q2 2025, unifying our users in the Muse ecosystem to create the industry's most innovative CMS. Special thanks to the entire Story Creation team: Chase Gruber, Chris Speziale, Daniel Arita, Danny Feliz, Dasha Lary, Dawin Camillo, Eric Saam, Frederica Chen, John Laslo, Kelly Filush, Morgan Cohn, Sarah Pai, Tyler Greenfield! Thanks also to DaD, Engagement, Helpfulness, Cloud Engineering, Test Engineering, and Operational Excellence! Finally, we recognize Malsgufa itself. Developed as a unified CMS backend to support Business Insider's expansion into new markets, it served our global newsroom reliably for a decade, publishing millions of stories despite no major changes in recent years. While it became less sustainable as our business evolved, it deserves our respect. Thank you, Malsgufa. May you rust in peace.

41

6 Comments

Leaders, ask not what your reports can do for you but what you can do for your reports. Maximize your impact by fostering environments where people can do their best work. Great post from John Cutler about shifting a reactive perspective and getting clarity on how to respond when things seem too complex. #Leadership #ProductDevelopment #PeopleFirst #Empathy

5

I've been interviewing a lot of people, so I get some variant of this question a lot. What does Remi actually do? I explain our unique business model & opportunity in my latest post. https://lnkd.in/gswR5anB

13

1 Comment

The job market in 2024 has been like navigating a storm—one that’s not following usual patterns. Despite a "good" economic environment (the stock market booming, companies making record profits) - hiring seems to be scarce, and the average job search is stretching to nearly 14 months. What’s causing this bizarre situation? 🌐 Legacy Things Crashing and Burning Legacy bits are finally reaching the end of their lifespans. Many companies have delayed upgrading for decades, but now have no choice (because things either have stopped working or upgrading {with "AI"} is the only way to prevent competition from crushing them). Higher interest rates mean money put into these necessary capital expenditures has to come at the expense of operational expansion. Instead of hiring new talent, companies are restructuring and laying off staff, further burdening already skeletal crews (all the while keeping job posts they aren't going to fill open). ⚔️ Too Many Seekers, Too Few Roles Too many job seekers are now fighting for too few non-ghost roles. Layoffs and restructuring have increased the number of qualified professionals hunting for jobs at the same time. With fewer companies expanding, the imbalance between job seekers and openings is at an all-time high, making competition fiercer than ever (even with 4x the number of job postings to job seekers). Not to mention the AI-Resume-ATS battles raging on in the recruiting world. 🧱 People Aren't Leaving Their Jobs People aren’t leaving their current roles as frequently as they did in the past. Job hopping has slowed significantly, whether due to economic uncertainty, job security, or fear of not finding another role (due to current job market conditions). This stagnation means fewer positions are opening up, bottlenecking the job market. 🌄 The Silver Lining: Relief Is Coming It’s not all doom and gloom—there’s a silver lining on the horizon. Once the Federal Reserve reduces interest rates, capital will be available for companies to start hiring again. The current strain on the bare-bone-marrow workforce has led to increased burnout. Without support, employees will start leaving (even if the market is bad), opening up more vacancies. Over the next few months, we can expect the number of open positions to increase as companies hire again (because they have money or to prevent more people leaving) or as people leave their jobs, creating more opportunities - which will then spur others to leave their roles accelerating this process. 🌟 The Light at the End of the Tunnel As the market rebalances itself again, the number of job applications per role should drop, finding that next position will become easier. The storm will pass, and the job market will begin to normalize. Until then, hang tight; this imbalance is hopefully a phase—one that will eventually clear, making way for brighter days ahead. #Jobpocalypse2024 #OpenToWork

2

7 Comments

I work with super talented software engineers who religiously practice code reviews. I have adopted this approach as part of my non-code work. https://lnkd.in/gMAtgPxS #softwareengineering #codereviews #bestpractices

11

2 Comments

With AI driving a transformation in tech, leaders today need more than just a solid plan—they need the tools and mindset to stay flexible. Strategies that work one day might need an overhaul the next, in my experience Facebook/Meta has mastered those techniques that help them and their teams pivot fast when needed (just look at their shift to AI). Here are a few essential techniques that keep leaders and their teams adaptable: ⛏️ Separate Everyday Tasks from Strategic Work: Leaders who delegate everyday tasks create space for their best people to focus on high-stakes goals. I saw this a few times at Meta, including with the creation of Threads (which happened in record time) ⛏️ Decision-Making Close to Execution: Empowering those closest to the work to make day-to-day decisions drives faster, more effective adjustments. Leaders who push decision-making authority down get quicker results and stronger buy-in from their teams. ⛏️ Align the Organization around Strategy: “Form and function should be one” applies here—when teams keep strategy and execution tightly linked, they’re better able to stay focused, even as they adapt to new conditions in real time. ⛏️ Trial and Error: Nothing beats learning in real-time. When I was at Google working on ambitious projects like capturing Street View from mountain peaks, we had a roadmap, but it was through trial and error—adjusting to conditions on the ground—that we really succeeded. It’s all about adapting as you go (check out a picture of me learning to Iceclibm on one of these early trips, talk about agility!). 💡 Takeaway: In this AI-fueled era, agility is everything. Make trial and error a core practice, free up strategic thinkers from busywork, and let decisions happen where the work gets done. The leaders who thrive today are the ones using these techniques to help their teams stay adaptable, focused, and ready for whatever comes next. #TechLeadership #AgileLeadership #AIRevolution #Adaptability #Innovation #Teamwork #Strategy #TrialAndError #GrowthMindset #TechTransformation #ExecutiveInsights #OrganizationalDevelopment #DecisionMaking

20

We talk a lot about AI hallucinating but not enough about the other side of that coin: people hallucinating AI. The rise of AI enabled interactions has prompted a lot of folks to chalk up every inauthentic-feeling communication they receive as "AI" when quite a bit of it is good old fassioned humans following the same tired corporate boilerplate they've been using for years (and which that AI was likely trained on). Authenticity is becoming performative out of necessity. If your communications are too polished, too professional (see how I'm using that comma improperly to create a more human sounding sentence?) you'll come off as a robot and alienate your audience in the process.

4

1 Comment

I have known Avni for almost ten years and I am super glad (and not surprised) that her customer-focused approach remains unchanged. We were fortunate to have Avni Savant speak to our teams at G2 India. The session was inspirational, and we learned a lot from her. Avni has a wealth of experience, and we are grateful for the valuable insights she shared with us. During the session brilliantly moderated by Aravind Raj, we discussed several topics and gained a few key takeaways: ⚡ Creating an environment that supports a "fail fast" mindset fosters innovation, and consistent leadership support is essential. Interestingly, this is something that Roger Valade aligns with strongly, and we are just in the middle of an innovation sprint. :) 🧠 We explored areas where AI can be implemented to solve product use cases. Avni stressed that we don't need to reinvent the wheel; instead, we should learn from companies that have successfully adopted AI. The most doable areas for AI implementation are to improve developer productivity and summarize insights and discoveries. 📊 We discussed how squad-specific goals (OKRs) can be integrated with the company's larger goals. For example, we can analyze if improving our product's onboarding experience impacts the adoption rate, and understand if the release was successful. Avni emphasized the importance of using data to make feature iterations and prioritization decisions. 💬 We discussed the significance of product development teams being close to the customers and leveraging customer interviews, and feedback from pre-sales, sales, and support teams. 💗 Lastly, Avni highlighted the importance of self-drivenness and having a clear point of view in one's career. She noted that this proactive approach is valued and appreciated. We are truly grateful to Avni for her time and lessons!

56

5 Comments

It's always exciting to read books by people you know. I can highly recommend Mike Maples, Jr,'s book, Pattern Breakers. Mike is a legend, having been on the Forbes Midas List since 2010. I was fortunate to get an early draft of sections of his book, which I will share here for all you entrepreneurs out there—but make sure to buy and read his book! Inflections and Insights Mando—here’s a document I hope is useful during the ideation phase of your startup (my favorite phase). I developed this while writing my book, based on observing my most successful founders pivot their ideas around the same core inflections and insights. Inflections: What major changes outside your startup will empower people in the future? Inflection Definition: An inflection introduces something new (technology, regulation, belief) that can radically change human capacities or behaviors. They disrupt the status quo and offer startups more ways to win by working in an uncertain future. Bigger inflections are better than smaller ones. They can empower people more significantly or in greater numbers, leading to radical changes in behavior. Insight Definition: An insight is a non-obvious truth about how inflections can radically change human capacities and behaviors. They offer new patterns that disrupt the status quo. Insight Guide: In the future, [a new thing, who it empowers, and how it empowers them]. This will be enabled by [named inflections]. This future is non-consensus because [status-quo barriers to this future happening]. But this insight is right because [our hypothesis about how these inflections will prove them wrong]. And the timing is right because [statement of ‘why now?’]. Thank you again, Mike Maples, Jr, for sharing these early insights and for your invaluable advice to entrepreneurs everywhere. I will never forget your advice on great entrepreneurs are "time travelers" Well, it turns out that most of the great startups come from a great insight and a great insight usually occurs when someone is living in the future and they notice something that’s missing.

19

1 Comment

Question for executives: if at the snap of your fingers your entire organization could embody the lessons of a single book, what book would that be?

6

2 Comments

As I review resumes for a senior manager role, I’m surprised by how many people highlight managing large teams - sometimes up to 50 direct reports. Let’s be honest: leading well isn’t about how many people you manage. When you’re overseeing that many, it often shows a lack of delegation. Real leadership is about empowering others, building strong teams, and creating systems that can scale.

21

1 Comment

🌟 Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Curiosity 🌟 As a leader, I've always been fascinated by what drives people to excel. One of my favorite interview questions is: "How would others describe you?" It's not just about the words they use, but the essence of their character that shines through. I always reflect on a powerful anecdote that perfectly encapsulates the essence of creativity and leadership. It's called the Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge, where teams are tasked with building the tallest structure using spaghetti, tape, string, and a marshmallow. Here's the kicker: Kindergarteners outperform MBA students! Why? Because they dive in with unbridled curiosity and fearless experimentation. They don't waste time on posturing; they just start building (Ted Talk: https://lnkd.in/d--jrrGF) This got me thinking about the importance of curiosity in leadership. Curious leaders, like those kindergarteners, aren't afraid to ask "why" and challenge the status quo. They embrace failure as part of the journey and have a bias for action. Take Steve Jobs, for example. His mantra of "Stay hungry, stay foolish" perfectly embodies the spirit of curiosity-driven leadership. He dared to imagine a world where technology wasn't just for engineers but for everyone. But curiosity isn't just about asking questions; it's about taking risks and pushing boundaries. Whether it's creating a new product, building a start-up or learning a new skill, curiosity propels us forward. So, the next time you're faced with a challenge, channel your inner kindergartener. Embrace curiosity, take risks, and watch as creativity flourishes. Let's stay curious and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible! 💡 #Leadership #Creativity #Curiosity #Innovation #TechLeadership

12

1 Comment

🚀 John Hayes has nailed it! 🔸DORA metrics are essential but just a starting point.🔸 His insights remind us that while DORA can improve efficiency, real DevOps success means addressing pain points unique to your team and constantly refining processes. John highlights examples that matter: ⏳ How long do integration tests take? 🔥 What’s your deployment failure rate? 🎛️ Are feature flags in place? 🔓 Do you automate access requests? These are the nuanced, team-specific issues that drive genuine velocity and low friction. 🔹True DevOps success isn’t about hitting targets - it’s about understanding and evolving them. 🔹 🌟👏 #DORA #DevOps #Wisdom #ContinuousImprovement

4

2 Comments