A short discussion of leadership improvements you can start using in your startup today as a technical executive.
A little trick I play on my clients when they think I'm not paying attention often leads us to uncover repeating mistakes and can help you avoid repeating yours. More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Are you just trying to get by one day after the next, or are you clear on what your goals are and why you're in this position? Do you realize that you're making a choice every day to continue doing what you're doing? Some higher-altitude questions to snap you out of autopilot, all in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
You could be a leader who takes things slowly, smooths every decision with everyone, ensures things are always nice and tidy. And you can also pull the bandaid when needed and get going. Can you take the lead?Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
While you definitely don't need to pretend to be perfect, and can and should make plenty of mistakes, there are areas where being pedantic pays off greatly. Let's pick some nits in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
If you've got no one in your corner helping you, taking care of your personal growth and development is an undeniable challenge. To ensure that you don't become the person weighing your organization down, in this episode we cover how to assess yourself even if you don't have a coach.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
In most startups right now, engineers are going through the AI fight. How much? How to do it? Slopists are wrestling with purists. There's no one right answer, but you need to get going. My take is in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. What about your personal history? Note-taking is an incredibly powerful and simple secret weapon that I keep being surprised so few are using. Take note of this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Have you ever twisted your ankle and started putting less weight on your foot for a while? How often did you continue even after it was no longer necessary? Are you avoiding pain in your organization as well?Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Wink wink, nudge nudge. Sometimes, good coaching boils down to that. Can you do it for your people? Are you lacking some of it yourself? Here's the truth about commonsense coaching in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
You know how some animals do certain things just because they can? You might be pulling off the startup equivalent. Are you wasting opportunities or stressing yourself out just because of momentum or the coolness factor? More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Coaching your seniors requires some senior coaching skills. Don't just leave them assuming "they're good." That's neglecting them. In this episode, we cover the ways you can help your engineers continue to grow rapidly.Get the impact coaching framework here: https://avivbenyosef.com/free-coaching-framework-ebook/Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Asking people to work during the weekend, even when you know the issue isn't that big a deal? Agreeing to be dishonest? This week we're tackling how you might be creating cognitive dissonance and becoming untrue to yourself, and how to ensure you don't make your team lose trust in you.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
All of a sudden, many tech executives find themselves weighing costs at a whole different scale. Build vs. buy decisions that would show up once a year now happen once a month. Hardware prices go up faster than Bitcoin. Learning how to handle that is crucial. This week's podcast lists a handful of tactics to help you.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Empty values are like empty calories. They might make you feel good for a second, but in the long term they are harmful. Are you playing pretend with your values, unaware that everyone in your organization sees through your illusion? More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Your team's not a bunch of chickens; you need not aim at making them "free range." Sometimes, leadership is precisely about limits, constraints, and guidance. You'll be surprised to know it can often boost productivity and creativity. More in this week's episode!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
As amazing as you are, I'm sure, you'll never create an organization that's filled with people who'll do everything just like you would. The concept of minions never works well. This week's podcast episode is about setting up your organization better, and it pays off not just for them, but also means you'll be able to lead better!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Good to great. Sure thing. But, frankly, you probably need to aim at *better* first. This episode is about gaining that momentum and getting that flywheel going!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
This week's podcast episode covers, in just eight minutes, how you can (and should) adjust Kent Beck's "call it" trick for TDD to your leadership toolbox. Let your thumb take a break from scrolling and give yourself a little upgrade.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Boring leaders tend to be overly focused on what's directly in front of them. You can do better. Think bigger. Take a second and set your sights on something genuinely aspirational. More in this week's episode!Check out Unplugged with Aviv.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Are you doing what actually matters or sticking your head in the sand and thinking you can focus on "your stuff" even as everything around you is crumbling down? More in this week's podcast episode.Unplugged with AvivGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
We don't need to make everything smoother and easier. In fact, some friction is good, and ensuring it's there will benefit your team. More in this week's episode!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
I find it absurd that for years, tech leaders and senior engineers didn't put into writing their different decisions, approaches, assumptions, ways of operating, and more for the benefit of their human peers. We have only just started to do so now, to aid the models. Nevertheless, we shouldn't let this change go to waste. More in this week's episode!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
If you're not giving your team enough margin, don't be surprised that things aren't improving fast enough (or at all, for that matter). Not every delay is bad. Sometimes, we need to create the space to grow. More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
You might be convincing yourself otherwise, but many tech leaders end up acting like a sleazy technician or car salesperson. Where we draw the line regarding our dishonesty guides our career. More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
To build a stable organization and help your people's growth (and your own), you need to ensure that skills are being accumulated in some general order and plan. That's a basic principle of coaching that will make you much more effective. This week, we cover just that!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Is your team's attitude not where you'd like it to be? Lacking a sense of urgency, or maybe not being accountable enough? Whatever it is, here are the first four steps you can take to address it.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Misguided thinking leads to burned-out leaders and engineers who don't realize their potential and don't reach proper seniority. You can do better, for them and for yourself.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Many tech leaders rarely get proper coaching from the CEO. Don't keep bashing your head against that wall, and don't get lost in the coaching desert. Take control of your progress. If not you, who? And if not now, when?Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Realizing that you could benefit from help is the first step, but if you don't know how to ask for it, you're not likely to get it. This week's episode is about saying what you need clearly so you can grow as a leader and avoid needlessly confusing or stressing those around you.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
We all say we want a learning organization, but how do you actually set up your team to do that? This week's episode is about ensuring you're not the obstacle in your team's way.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Ever found yourself piling food on your plate(s) because you were in a free buffet? That's what some teams have started doing with the new capabilities they got from AI. Don't fall for empty-calorie features and product obesity. More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
If your main lens for the outside world and the industry is based on social media and LinkedIn, you're probably getting a very distorted view of reality. It can be depressing, demotivating, or just derailing. It doesn't have to be that way!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
There are laws of nature, and then there are the things that we tell ourselves are fixed, yet really aren't. How many of the walls around you are of your own doing? Let's break free.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Experience tells that on most engineering teams, there's someone underperforming, either due to a mistake you made or inherited. The question is, what are you going to do about it? More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
What you're holding out on saying is holding you back. How many months have you wasted not opening your mouth? How many opportunities? How much frustration has been building up? Today's episode puts an end to that.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Are you merely winging it, or did you take a second to consider what you're doing and where you're headed? Being mindful for a few minutes could make all the difference between a proactive leader and a floating one. More in this week's podcast!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
When we censor ourselves and parts of our personality too much at work, it shows. Your team can feel that there's a barrier. Your peers will sense it. Can you unleash yourself?Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
As we're starting the year, people instinctively choose all the things they want to do. It's like piling our plates at a buffet. But that's a sure-fire way to lose your appetite even before getting started. Know your No.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Anyone can get a few good people to join the team, but turning that into an actual team? That's a whole different game. Are you crafting collaboration? Let's get you ready for an amazing 2026.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Humans are amazing pattern-matching machines. However, sometimes we extrapolate from a single anecdote and build upon a shoddy foundation. More in this week's episode.3+2 going out of business saleLock special pricing for Unplugged with Aviv: https://avivby.gumroad.com/l/unpluggedGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
DRY is a rule every engineer knows, but so many leaders forget. We get stuck in loops, going through the same mistakes and wrong moves, expecting the same action to have a different result. Let's discuss DRY leadership.3+2 going out of business saleCommon sense videoLock special pricing for Unplugged with Aviv: https://avivby.gumroad.com/l/unpluggedGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Of course you care about the team, but sometimes we let that care get in our way. We confuse caring for them with coddling and overprotection, which results in teams that happily and calmly go on their merry paths for mediocrity (or worse). More in this week's podcast!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Sometimes, getting so good at something that we do it automatically makes us worse at it. We get the task done and miss the bigger picture. That's what I'm often seeing with hiring and promotion decisions. This week's podcast episode is about breaking out of the autopilot hiring loop and finding the opportunities to do something even more impactful.Check out Unplugged with Aviv.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
I recently had conversations with several founders and executives after their companies had a major success or failure. What we get out of these moments (other than financial success, if any) is what we learned and how we improved. This week's episode is about not wasting that!Lock special pricing for Unplugged with Aviv: https://avivby.gumroad.com/l/unpluggedGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Optimizing for the next step ahead of you can get you to a local maxima, but still lead you down the wrong path. As a leader, you cannot fall for greedy algorithm leadership! More in this week's episode.Unplugged with Aviv is currently on a reduced rate and once you join, you lock it for life!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Sometimes, even when we're told exactly what mistake we're walking into, we still have to learn the "hard way." Otherwise, we could all spend a year reading a bunch of books and become perfect in whatever we set out to achieve. Yet, if we don't actually learn, we're wasting our time going through the toils of the hard way without at least getting better. More in this week's episode.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Just like we iterate on our products, we need to learn how to iterate effectively on our organizations. Framing things as experiments and tests makes it easier to gain momentum, reduces pushback, and helps get people to speak up. This week's episode is about the testing hack!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
I've yet to come across someone who had a shortage of excuses. When those are then used to justify not addressing problematic people because they are "critical," we create long-term cultural damage to the org that will be incredibly hard to undo. More in this week's episode!Please answer this single-question survey about the Rome Sessions.Get the free tech exec roadmap email course.Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Death by a thousand papercuts often happens when we neglect particular issues, expecting us to have the opportunity to handle them "seriously" eventually. That neglect can be disastrous. Stop digging!Please fill out this single-question poll about the Rome Sessions. I'd would mean a lot to me!Get my free email course: Tech Exec RoadmapGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
Understanding the natural thought patterns of your CEO will help you communicate effectively and create trust rather than lose it. One such aspect is the "anecdote machine" thinking. With few data points, extrapolation roams free, and it often misses. More in this week's episode!Please fill out this single-question poll about the Rome Sessions. I'd would mean a lot to me!Grab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
The ingenious use of paper towels to unlock business value and how that connects to your team's autonomy and agency. Are people sitting on their hands waiting to be told what to do, looking directly at obvious solutions and not implementing them? A lesson from a bar in Rome.Check out Unplugged with AvivGrab a copy of my books, Capitalizing Your Technology and The Tech Executive Operating System.Subscribe to the best newsletter for tech executives.For any questions or comments, reach out to me directly: aviv@avivbenyosef.com
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