Ask Your Developer….

I recently read Ask Your Developer by Jeff Lawson, and it strongly resonated with my experience leading software development teams. The central idea is simple but powerful: the people actually writing the code often have the clearest understanding of what's possible—and what's not. Lawson makes a compelling case that empowering developers to help shape product decisions leads to faster innovation, better outcomes, and a healthier company culture.

That mirrors what I’ve seen firsthand. When developers are trusted and involved early, they not only come up with smart solutions but also take more ownership. At the same time, I believe leadership has a role that goes beyond just listening—we need to set a clear, challenging, and inspiring vision. It's that balance between bottom-up insight and top-down direction that creates real momentum. This book validated that belief and gave me a few new ways to articulate and act on it.