I have led developers directly and through a day-to-day manager. At Modified Solutions, I gave specialists ownership of technical decisions, discussed growth and wellbeing with them, and made sure customer needs were clarified. My aim was a team where skilled people could grow and deliver good work over time.
Leading developers with ownership and support
A developer rarely does their best work if every choice has to be approved further up. On the other hand, freedom is not the same as unclear expectations. My best experience has come from making the direction clear and letting the specialists make the technical decisions within that frame. My job is to be available when they need guidance, prioritisation or a decision that reaches beyond their own area.
Written recommendations from three employees give a more personal insight. Kirsten describes trust and freedom with responsibility. Sureewan talks about accessibility, clear explanations and me taking the customer dialogue when something goes wrong. Kristián describes clear quality expectations and room to grow as a developer, including when working remotely. I would rather let their own words stand as evidence than declare myself a particular kind of leader.
Learning and retention
We set aside every other Friday for learning and knowledge sharing. When the capacity we had reserved for unforeseen tasks was not used, it could also go towards upskilling. It was a concrete choice to give developers time to get better. Employees stayed four to five years on average, and several stayed considerably longer. That figure alone cannot prove why people stayed, but it shows that our collaboration worked over time.
The manager's role with customers
When a customer experiences a problem, I first find out what has happened. If the responsibility is ours, we get it fixed, and I take the necessary conversation myself. That gives the team room to work and gives the customer a person who takes responsibility. That is the kind of leadership I will bring to a new development environment: clear frames, honest dialogue and room to be professionally strong.
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