Watching him conduct is fascinating. He’s not trying to play every instrument himself. He’s listening to the whole piece, hearing what doesn’t quite fit, bringing different voices in at the right moment, changing the energy, changing the tempo and shaping the performance as it unfolds. Increasingly, that’s what great software developers look like.
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The orchestra doesn’t need the conductor because the musicians aren’t talented enough. It needs the conductor because someone has to hold the whole system in their head. Increasingly, I think that’s what great software developers are doing.
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An executive coach taught me some things I’ve never forgotten.

Protect your attention.
Manage your energy.
Reduce unnecessary decisions.
Create systems that help your brain, not just your calendar.