This handbook helps new and aspiring technical leaders learn basic skills for their role. Designed as a simple and informal reference, The Technical Leader’s Blackbook, 1st Ed. is divided into three sections, providing brief, hands-on tips on how to get started, daily management, and ensure changes last.
This section contains basic concepts and tools for getting, as well as important things to remember when you begin in a new role
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This section contains tips on how to keep projects moving along and maintain relationships between team members.
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This sections helps Technical Leaders maintain their sanity in the face of chaos as well and how to hand off their work to a new technical leader during times of transition.
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Becoming a leader people want to follow is not the result of knowledge, schooling, or experience. It’s about the core of who you are. This leadership development program helps young leaders recognize their own unique character, values, and strengths and how to best leverage them. Their character is tested in challenging simulations and case studies that reveal more about who they are as a person. Participants provide deep feedback to each other and create personal development plans they can take back to their work.
Aspiring Leaders, Team Leads, Existing managers
Instructor-led. Available virtually or in-person
6 hrs
USD $525 / participant
It’s a balance: technical expertise and problem solving on one hand, motivating and developing people on the other. These are different skillsets that must go hand-in-hand. This leadership development program explores the neurological and practical challenges of leading in a technical environment. Participants are immersed in complex simulation activities that measure their effectiveness with running the business and leading their people. Using behavioral assessments and real-time simulation feedback, participants leverage data visualizations to help them see and improve their technical leadership
Team leads, manager, and sr. managers in technical disciplines (IT, engineering, science, software, etc)
Instructor-led. Virtual and in-person.
3-days, 8-hr sessions
USD $1,200/participant
High-performing teams are effective because they don’t rely on one person to make all the decisions. Rather, managers foster an envrionment that makes high performance possible. Based on concepts from Aaron Dignan’s Brave New Work and holacracy, this course helps teams learn to make decisions as a team, creating psychological safety and autonomy. Using short activities and data analytics, participants break down trust into visual data to identify opportunity areas. In doing so, they radically increase engagement and significantly decrease non-productive meetings, endless email, and pointless discussion. Managers are given 1-on-1 coaching to help facilitate the change and make it stick
In-tact teams of 6-25. Best for corporate teams.
All virtual. Blend of virtual meetings, coaching sessions, and off-line activities.
8-weeks, 2-3 hrs per week.
USD $3,650 / team
Team leads sit at the critical intersection between doing the work and leading the people. They’re expected to manage deadlines, support team dynamics, communicate with stakeholders, and still contribute hands-on—all without formal leadership training.
This workshop is designed specifically for new and aspiring team leads who want to step into leadership with confidence. We focus on building the mindset, behaviors, and tools needed to lead effectively in fast-paced, high-expectation environments.
Hands-on simulations, real-time feedback, and practical tools designed to help tech leaders shift from problem-solvers to people leaders. You’ll walk away with clear strategies, decision-making frameworks, and a leadership toolkit built for fast-moving teams.
Interactive leadership simulations based on real-world team challenges
A personalized leadership action plan
Practice real-life scenarios in a safe, supportive space
Simthing New is a leadership development company that uses simulation-based learning to help leaders grow in character, resilience, and team effectiveness.
