The right mindset to have as a Leader

Hey friend,

We are back to regular scheduled programming. Sending many launch emails always makes me nervous 😅 as I want to always send you stuff that is helpful. I don't want to just send you marketing fluff so thank you for your patience!

The launch for Developer to Leader ↗️ went great - many opted in to sign up! Thank you so much for supporting my work! 🙏

Now, anyone can join Developer to Leader ↗️ at any point they like. It's all automated which feels great.

I took sometime off and as I was away, I started brainstorming on what my next thing could be. If you have any ideas, please reply to this email and help me?


This lesson is taken partly from Developer to Leader to help you build a solid mindset for Leadership! 💪

Today, I want to chat on US vs WE mindset and how damaging that can be for your team.

The "us vs. we" mindset refers to the distinction between individualistic (us) and collective (we) perspectives. Let’s review the two and talk about how that changes for you as a Leader.

Us Mindset (Individualistic)

People with this mindset may prioritize their own goals, opinions, and perspectives over those of the group.

People might be more likely to make decisions based on personal interests and strive for personal success or in your case it would be the team’s benefit.

We Mindset (Collectivistic)

People with this mindset prioritize group harmony, cooperation, and shared goals over personal interests.

They are more likely to make decisions based on the best interests of the group and strive for collective success.

The Right Mindset you need to Develop

When you transition to a Leader, you need to have a “we” mindset vs a team’s mindset since you are on the same side as the org. It’s important to change your perspective from us to we.

  • When you got promoted or transitioned into leadership, your direct team is not us. Your leadership team is “us” and where you discuss different options and what’s right for your org
  • Your peers are other managers with teams and you prioritizing your team will not benefit anyone.
  • This change in perspective will be a game changer for you
  • You need to think that the entire org is your team and make decisions accordingly.
For example, when you have to make a decision. Think about how it will benefit your org vs just your team.

Takeaways for you 👇

As you read this week's newsletter, I want you to rethink how you can change or adapt this mindset moving forward.

🧰 The Engineering Leader's Toolbox

  • You can also check out the Cognitive biases we may have that can impact your decision making ability.
  • The Feeling Wheel: Increase your self-awareness for what you feel and add a word next to it.

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