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A CTO’s guide to code-switching: How to tailor your messages to your audience

Building essential communication skills as a technical leader
August 08, 2022

During a recent panel about the role of the CTO, I was asked to name one of the most important skills for technical leaders.

My answer was ‘code-switching’, or the ability to tailor your messages based on the audience you’re talking with.

This might seem an odd choice, but earlier in the panel we discussed how my average day might include discussing a technical design with engineering teams, sharing a roadmap with a customer, explaining the company vision to investors, and collaborating with executives outside of R&D. Needless to say, those are all very different audiences.

Becoming an effective communicator is a crucial career skill for technical leaders, especially if you aspire to senior leadership.

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