Recently, at one of our internal SENSE* leadership retreats, I had the honor of delivering the closing remarks to a group of incredibly talented up-and-coming leaders at our firm. As the applause died down and I thought I was off the hook, I was hit with a question that left me thinking long after the event: “In the next five years, what would you recommend we focus on, leadership-wise, that wasn’t covered today?”
My answer was simple but, I believe, crucial: The future will belong to those who are digitally curious and who embrace the new paradigms of virtual communication and collaboration. And I don’t just mean being able to open a Zoom link without crashing your computer—though that’s a good start. I mean developing a mindset where you lean into technology and use it to elevate your leadership abilities.
As a CTO, there’s often an assumption that I know far more than I actually do—especially when it comes to things like programming, app development, and the intricate details of our tech stack. So this makes me wonder: Just how much of a tech expert should someone in my position, or really any leadership position, aim to be?
The answer, I’ve found, isn’t all that different from the ones I used to have in the other leadership roles I’ve taken on throughout my career. The key to leading a highly technical business like ours is not becoming a master coder or app developer, but understanding just enough to be effective.
This concept hit home for me when I read Digital Mindset, a book that references what it calls the “30 Percent Rule.” It’s a brilliant concept. You don’t need to understand programming or data science to the level of an expert, but you should know the fundamentals to about 30 percent. Why? Because that’s enough to manage, lead, and make informed decisions without getting lost in the details. You should be able to know what’s happening and why it matters—even if you’re not the one writing the code or crunching the data.
For example, linear regression is a common term in data analysis. Should you know how to build a linear regression model? Not necessarily. But you should understand what it does and how its outputs can influence decisions. It’s about staying informed enough to steer the ship, while your team handles the technical execution. This “30 percent knowledge” will become a critical skill set for leaders in all fields—not just in tech.
Another point I emphasized is that much of our time will be spent digitally connecting with our peers. It’s astounding how many companies are still behind in fully embracing digital interaction. I’m not just talking about having a virtual presence; I’m talking about elevating it. Whether you’re on a video call, presenting, or collaborating, how you show up matters.
Let’s cover some virtual communication basics. Your face should take up about three-quarters of the screen (no one wants to see your ceiling fan or the top of your head), and your eyes should be about two-thirds of the way up the screen. Look into the camera—it’s the closest thing to making eye contact in the digital world. Use your hands when speaking, keep your points brief, and for goodness’ sake, don’t talk for more than five minutes straight. After five minutes of one voice, people mentally check out. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen.
And for those who are part of multi-office teams, I emphasized that you’ve got to do more to stay in the loop and prove you’re engaged. Regular updates on your progress are essential. Don’t wait until it’s convenient for you to connect with your team; meet them when they’re available. In-person, it’s easy to ask casual questions and stay engaged, but in a virtual world, that same level of connection requires more intentional effort. You want to make sure your presence, and the work you’re doing, is noticed.
In the end, leadership in the future won’t just be about managing people; it will be about mastering the art of digital collaboration. Those who lean into this shift will be the ones leading the way.
*SENSE Syska’s SENSE (Syska Employee Network of Support and Education) supports learning, provides guidance for professional development, and promotes collaboration to build on Syska’s culture of technical excellence.