Know the Mission
Understanding the business deeply enough to lead technology in the right direction.
Why it matters
Technology without business context is just engineering.
This is where most technology leaders have the biggest gap. They understand the technology deeply but they don't understand the business well enough to connect the two. They can tell you about microservices architecture but they can't tell you about the company's unit economics.
What it looks like in practice
Knowing the mission means understanding the business strategy, the financial model, the customer journey, the competitive landscape, and the market dynamics. Not at a surface level. Deeply enough to make technology decisions that move the business forward.
When you know the mission, you stop asking what should we build and start asking what does the business need technology to enable. That shift changes everything. Instead of taking orders, you're shaping strategy. Instead of being a cost centre, you're driving business value.
How to develop this
The practical application is straightforward. Read the board papers. Understand the P&L. Know your company's top three strategic priorities. Spend time with customers. Talk to the sales team. Understand what's keeping the CEO up at night. Then connect your technology roadmap to those realities.
Technology leaders who know the mission earn a seat at the strategic table. Not because they asked for it, but because they demonstrated they understand the game well enough to contribute at that level.