In "Dumb Leadership Mistakes I’ve Made," Laura Tacho reflects on significant leadership missteps she has encountered throughout her career to aid others in recognizing and avoiding similar errors. She argues for the value of intuition in decision-making, dismissing the stereotype of it being purely emotional. Tacho identifies the pitfalls of believing oneself to be data-driven without having access to accurate data and emphasizes the importance of empowering others rather than solely relying on personal expertise. She advocates for seeking expert help when necessary, utilizing external knowledge to save time, and stresses the shift from being solely an engineering leader to understanding broader business impacts, a transition crucial for effective leadership today.

Key Points:

• Dismissing Intuition: Intuition is based on accumulated experiences and should not be ignored; leaders should clarify their observational process and validate their decisions.
• Data-Driven Theater: Many leaders falsely identify themselves as data-driven; honesty about decision-making based on vision rather than data is essential.
• Empowering Others: Focusing on making team members knowledgeable is more beneficial than merely showcasing personal expertise; jargon should be simplified for better understanding.
• Utilizing Experts: Seeking external expertise can save valuable time; hiring experts on a project basis is often more effective than full-time hires.
• Understanding Leadership Roles: Engineering leaders should recognize their broader role in impacting the business and product, moving beyond a narrow technical focus.
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