We've seen it dozens of times. A company hires developers, gives them a list of features, and waits for the magic to happen. Six months later, they have software that technically works but doesn't solve the actual problem.
The failure wasn't in the code. It was in the thinking that happened before anyone opened an IDE.
The Real Problem: No One Is Leading the Build
Most companies aren't missing developers. They're missing someone who can:
- Diagnose the real problem, not just the symptoms
- Design a solution the business team can actually understand
- Challenge assumptions before they become expensive mistakes
- Explain the 'why' behind technical decisions
This is technical leadership. And it's the gap that kills projects.
Three Questions That Save Projects
Before we write any code, we ask three questions that most teams skip:
1. What happens if we build nothing?
Sometimes the answer reveals that the 'urgent' project isn't urgent at all. Other times it clarifies exactly what's at stake and why speed matters.
2. Who will use this, and what does success look like for them?
Not 'what features do you want' but 'what outcome are you trying to create?' Features are guesses. Outcomes are measurable.
3. What's the simplest version that would be useful?
Every project has a core that matters and features that don't. Finding that core early saves months of wasted effort.
The Cost of Skipping Technical Leadership
When you hire developers without technical leadership, you get:
- Software that technically meets requirements but doesn't solve the problem
- Endless scope creep because no one defined what 'done' means
- A system you don't understand and can't maintain
- Decision fatigue because every question comes back to you
The alternative is working with a team that leads the build, not just executes tasks. A team that explains the 'why' so you can make informed decisions. A team that gives you confidence your software won't fall apart.
That's what technical leadership looks like. And it's what separates successful projects from expensive lessons.