Constant self-improvement is a must for success not only in your professional life but also in your personal life. If you make small but meaningful changes and adapt based on how those changes affect real-world outcomes, you can become a much more capable and resilient individual whose qualities and skills will be especially needed when you choose to thrive in the tech world.

Being a technology leader is not just a task you have to do. Being a leader is a calling and a mission that carries with it great responsibility. Technology leaders care about their employees because they know that they are the foundation of a successfully completed project or created product.

Today we’re sharing the top tips that will turn you into a better version of yourself and your team’s favorite #tech leader, presented by 101 Ways.

Focus on leadership, not just technology
Technology leaders often think they must have the best technology knowledge in the world. But not only is it impossible to stay on top of the details of every technology or software development trend, given the broader responsibilities you have as CTO, CIO, etc., it’s simply not your job. As a leader, you’re not there to write code, you’re there to look at the bigger picture and make sure your teams are focused on the right problems and have the resources they need to get the job done.

What you need to do
You don’t need to have all the answers or understand all the details. You need trusted advisors who understand those details. Your job is to put that advice into context and make decisions about what is important and what is not. Then focus on communicating those priorities across the organization and ensuring your teams have the support and resources they need.

Do not forget about the attitude to culture
A sense of community has a huge impact on employee productivity, performance and engagement.

Ultimately, culture is about connections and what those connections facilitate. Culture requires attention to nuance and intentional action of reaching out and intentional listening. The need for intentional culture is becoming more apparent in the context of productivity and remote working, as well as managing teams that are not always (or never) in the same room.

What you need to do
Get into the expectations you have set for the team and embody them. Let your employees know that anyone who wants to drop by for a chat can do so, and that they’ll find a good companion and advisor in you.

Nurturing respect through differences
One of the many reasons for the ongoing obsession with the details of the latest technology trends is the fear that the only way to earn the respect of employees is to be “the best.” While there may be a grain of truth to this, you’ll never know as much about the details of a topic as
someone who spends their day, every day in this world.

What you need to do
You need to earn respect by being an effective leader and providing your teams with the support and resources they need.

You also need to develop a sense of comfort from not knowing all the answers. If you exude confidence when asking questions, you can actually use these moments as opportunities to let someone on your team shine by offering a solution. The doubt you feel is most often just in your head.