Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Sean Stratton
If you want to be a people-focused technology leader, you’ll want to hear this episode with Sean Stratton. His deep experience and respect for others show. He has led tech teams across legal, financial and petroleum industries.
Sean reminds us that no matter what industry you’re in or tech perspective you have, if you are managing people, communication skills are essential. He even talks about how he has used Myers Briggs in understanding and relating to his teams. I appreciated his perspective on mentorship, something he’s very passionate about, and succession planning.
Sean’s “tech peeve” might surprise you. We talked a lot about what tech and non-tech leaders need to remember, like matching IT systems to specific business needs. If you are looking for mentorship, give this a listen. There was so much good advice Sean freely shares here.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
• "Don’t let your job be your identity.”
• "Reflect before making decisions. Understand the business and your team."
• "My biggest passion is growing talent and growing people."
• "The job of mentoring is to develop their skills so that they independently can do it on their own."
• "Knowing your blind spots is really important.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
• Focus on the people side of IT and build strong relationships with team members.
• Leadership is about setting a direction and empowering others to find their own path.
• Recognize and leverage the strengths of team members, especially in technical roles.
• Listen, ask questions, and understand the business needs and the people you lead.
• Avoid chasing the latest technology trends and align technology with business goals. A mentor should understand the goals and aspirations of their mentees and guide them in the direction they want to go.
• Mentors should help mentees develop their own skills and find their own solutions, rather than providing all the answers.
• Personality tests, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, can help mentors understand individual styles and blind spots.
• Succession planning is an important responsibility for leaders, and it's crucial to have a plan in place for the future of the team or company.
• Leaders should not let their job define their identity.
• Building a network and learning from other leaders in various industries is a valuable source of knowledge and growth.
LINKS FROM EPISODE
Sean Stratton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-stratton-1761972/
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