The Technical Leader Checklist

Finding someone who can write great code is just the first step. When you're looking for a technical leader (someone who could become your CTO), you need to think way beyond their programming abilities.

Think of it like hiring a restaurant manager. Sure, they should know how to cook, but can they handle angry customers, train new staff, and make sure the kitchen runs smoothly during the dinner rush? Your technical leader needs those same "people skills" for your tech team.

Communication That Actually Makes Sense

The best technical leaders can explain complicated tech stuff in simple words. If they start throwing around fancy terms like "microservices architecture" and "API endpoints" without helping you understand what that means for your business, that's a red flag.

Great technical leaders should be able to:

• Tell you how long something will take (and actually stick to it)
• Explain why one approach costs more than another
• Share bad news early instead of hiding problems
• Make everyone on the team feel heard and understood

Accountability Without Excuses

Here's the thing about accountability - it's rare in the tech world. Too many developers will tell you they're "70% done" for weeks on end. A real leader takes ownership when things go wrong and has systems to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Look for someone who:

• Admits mistakes quickly and fixes them faster
• Creates simple ways to track progress (like the sprint system)
• Doesn't blame other people or "difficult requirements"
• Actually finishes what they start

Strategic Thinking Beyond Code

Anyone can build features. A technical leader thinks about how today's decisions affect your company six months from now. They should understand that choosing the wrong technology now could cost you tons of money later.

The right person will:

• Ask about your business goals before suggesting solutions
• Think about how your product will grow and change
• Consider what happens when you have 10x more users
• Balance "perfect" solutions with "good enough for now"

The People Management Test

Here's where many technical people fail. Writing code alone in a room is very different from managing a team of other developers. Some warning signs to watch for:

• They get frustrated when non-technical people ask questions
• They always want to rebuild everything from scratch
• They can't explain why their way is better
• They avoid meetings or seem annoyed by them

Red Flags That Cost Real Money

Based on what I've seen with clients, here are the expensive mistakes to avoid:

The "Genius Developer" who builds everything themselves but can't teach anyone else how it works. When they leave (and they always leave), you're stuck with code nobody understands.

The "Yes Person" who agrees to every timeline and budget without thinking it through. They'll promise you the moon and deliver a pile of broken features three months late.

The "Perfectionist" who wants to spend six months planning before writing any code. Perfect is the enemy of done, especially when you're trying to get a product to market.

What Great Looks Like

The best technical leaders I've worked with share some common traits. They're curious about your business, not just the tech parts. They ask great questions like "Who is this feature really for?" and "What happens if this doesn't work?"

They also build teams that can work without them. If your technical leader is the only person who can fix critical problems, you don't have a leader - you have a very expensive single point of failure.

Most importantly, they make technology decisions that help your business grow instead of just showing off how smart they are.

The Bottom Line

Finding a great technical leader is like finding a great business partner. You need someone who cares about your success, communicates clearly, and can build systems that work even when they're not around.

Don't settle for someone who's just good at coding. Your business deserves a leader who can grow with you and help turn your vision into reality.

Coming Next Week:

What Makes a Great Product Owner? - How this key role bridges the gap between vision and execution.

At Keiboarder, we help startups to Fortune 500 companies avoid costly software development mistakes with expert fractional CTO leadership, a clear roadmap, and a proven process to build and scale market-ready products. Get in touch with us, and let's build awesome things together! 🚀