All of us has heard of software companies that achieved a great success - Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo.. more recently Google and Skype. As we are technical people we tend to think it is related entirely with some super-duppa algorithm, smart software or you name it... built even in a garage. In most cases this is the initial power that make them move. But after initial start there are another factors that counts.
Have you wondered how is possible to build world class product with team of 5 and within a year to have a team of 100 (or 1000) doing same thing? This is very dangerous situation because there is a moment in a young company when nobody knows what exactly are their responsibilities. It is dangerous because clients starts to suffer low quality of service. Having many teams require a lot of communication and not knowing how to structure it a lot of precious time is wasted. Such situations requires a good leadership.
The companies that has success had a leaders to help them. And leadership has small to do with technical problems. Dale Carnegie points this very accurate:
Even in such technical lines as engineering, about 15% of one's financial success is due one's technical knowledge and about 85% is due to skill in human engineering, to personality and the ability to lead people.
Dale Carnegie
Software industry is very different to other well known industries and in same same time very similar. Leadership is very same.
Employees are not told what to do anymore. Now, you influence their choices and assist them in reaching their goals. You do not direct; you win the team over to your point of view. You do not dictate; you inspire! You can learn how to convey this inspiration by focusing on your leadership skills development. Leadership development is needed to successfully take charge of your team in today's business world.
dalecarnegie.com