The Full Stack Leader

Full-stack leaders are generalist specialists, driving results end-to-end from idea to finished product.

Player-coaches who are motivated to navigate levels effectively using both craft and people skills.

They can see the full picture at broad range yet work with tight focus. Always learning, full-stack leaders read widely and use coaching to improve.

Focused on results and not on activities, titles, or “time at the computer.” They push when needed, leading with a true sense of urgency.

Are you a full-stack leader?

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Credit: Chris Chumley of PHX Ventures for the “full stack” operating model, with a nod to Shopify’s “~Mastery” model. And, many more leadership lessons from folks like Matt Mullenweg, Peter Drucker, and Ray Dalio.

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The Stack

This is my view of the ten most important components of full-stack leadership.

1. Build on strengths. Know yourself.
2. Grow skills via the fundamentals of your craft.
3. Able to learn from anyone and anything: self, books, school, life, and other people.
4. Self-managed mindset. Take direct responsibility.
5. Clear communicator and collaborative approach, able to work across cultures and generations.
6. Navigate levels and prioritize effectively.
7. Player-coach—in the game via:
   • Attention/awareness as a “first-class noticer“
   • Decision-making
   • Performance
8. Execution, “I will work on *" and “We can build *”
   • Where * means anything.
   • No job is beneath or above you.
9. Visible results.
10. Activate—level up those around you.

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Mindset

“We call it doing things.”

Brandon Pierce (VP, Executive Creative Director at Hulu)

And:

“Just do it.”

Nike ad campaign. Coined by Dan Wieden of Wieden+Kennedy.