The Delicate Dance of the Fractional CTO

Hey there,

As a fractional CTO, you live in two worlds. 

On one side, you're a Visioneer, co-creating the future with the CEO. On the other, you're an Engineer, turning that vision into reality with your team.

It's a delicate dance. Lean too far into Visioneer mode, and you risk over-promising and under-delivering. Get lost in the weeds of Engineering, and you can miss the forest for the trees.

The key is knowing when to flex each muscle. Here's my general rule of thumb:

• In strategy sessions with the CEO, be a Visioneer. Ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and paint a bold picture of what's possible.

• In standups with your dev team, be an Engineer. Break down the vision into actionable steps, remove blockers, and keep the ship on course.

• In roadmap planning, be a Visioneer. Fight for the resources and priorities that will drive the biggest impact.

• In code reviews, be an Engineer. Ensure quality, scalability, and alignment with best practices.

The most effective fractional CTOs are ambidextrous. They can seamlessly context-switch between the two modes, while always keeping the end goal in mind.

This isn't easy. It requires a constant zooming in and out, a comfort with context-switching, and a deep understanding of both the business and the technology. But when you nail it, magic happens.

At CTOx, we dive deep into this Visioneer/Engineer duality. Through case studies and peer discussions, we unpack what it looks like to balance strategy and execution at different stages of growth.

I'd love to hear your experiences navigating this dance. What signals tell you it's time to switch modes? How do you keep yourself honest in each role?

Reply back and let's jam on it. Because the better we get at this balancing act, the more value we can deliver for our clients and teams.

Visioneering with you,
Lior

Lior Weinstein
Founder & Head Coach, CTOx