Engineering leader Archives

189: Accelerate Promotion by Avoiding a Common Phase 2 Trap

by Max Ahumada | Oct 7, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I dive into the challenges of performance reviews and how to shift your approach to accelerate your next promotion.

I share a story about Daniel, an engineering leader who felt stuck in his career, frustrated by seeing his peers get promoted while he remained in the same role. The key insight? It’s not about constantly asking what gaps you need to close—it’s about demonstrating that you’re already performing at the next level.

By shifting the conversation with leadership from “what’s missing” to “what more can I contribute at the next level,” Daniel unlocked new growth in his career. I’ll walk you through how to make this same shift.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to elevate your promotion strategy!

183: These 5 Common Thieves Are Stealing Your Productivity

by Max Ahumada | Aug 26, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I dive into the five thieves of your productivity—those sneaky forces that derail your progress without you even realizing it.

From the lack of clear priorities to energy mismanagement, each thief subtly steals your efficiency, leaving you overwhelmed and frustrated.

I’ll walk you through each one, sharing practical insights on how to identify and combat these productivity killers.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but not getting anywhere, this episode is for you.

So press play and let’s chat… about taking back control of your productivity!

175: Do You Make These 3 Mistakes in Mentorship?

by Max Ahumada | Jul 1, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I share my journey of leveraging mentorship to pivot from engineering to business leadership. I discuss the critical importance of having world-class mentors and how their guidance opened doors I never thought possible.

You’ll learn about the three biggest mistakes mentees make: not having world-class mentors, not meeting with them regularly, and not asking for what you really want.

Through my own experiences and the lessons I’ve learned, I provide practical advice on avoiding these pitfalls and maximizing the benefits of mentorship.

So press play and let’s chat about how to elevate your career through powerful mentorship!

157: Learn to Say More with Less Words | Executive Communication

by Max Ahumada | Feb 26, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I reflect on a recent coaching session with an engineering leader named David, who struggled to articulate his career challenges concisely.

I share how, despite his impressive background, David’s long-winded communication hindered his progress. From experiences like this, I’ve learned the critical importance of clear and concise communication in career advancement.

I delve into how engineers, like myself, often fall into the trap of verbosity, but mastering concise communication is essential for success. Whether it’s in emails or conversations, brevity saves time and fosters clarity. By adopting this habit, engineers can project authority, autonomy, and decisiveness, crucial qualities for effective leadership.

Join me as I discuss the power of concise communication and its transformative impact on career growth.

So press play and let’s chat about leveling up your communication game!

151: Forget Work-Life Balance If You Want to Be Happy | Master the Wheel of Life

by Max Ahumada | Jan 15, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the crucial concept of whole life balance, challenging the traditional notion of work-life balance.

The centerpiece of this episode is the Wheel of Life, a powerful tool for assessing satisfaction in eight key areas, including body, finances, relationships, mindset, and vocation. I guide you through the process of scoring each domain and emphasize the importance of taking small, specific actions to improve each area gradually.

The episode concludes with an actionable plan to prioritize and address the areas that need attention the most. Don’t miss the chance to grab the accompanying workbook and embark on your journey toward whole life balance.

So press play and let’s chat about transforming your life one wheel at a time.

136: Formula 1 Performance Leads to RAPID Career Acceleration with Paul Teasdale | McLaren F1 Team

by Max Ahumada | Oct 26, 2023 | Podcast

In this episode, we bring you high performance Formula 1 insights for your career acceleration goals with Paul Teasdale.

Paul is a former member of the McLaren F1 Racing team, and now travels around the world helping companies and individuals as a coach, speaker, facilitator, and podcast host.

We cover his RAPID framework, a unique way to apply the data-driven methodologies of high performance racing into your career. And here’s the most surprising part of his model that every engineer needs to know:

Data comes last.

Paul held various roles including consulting in food manufacturing, international shipping, dairy export and business banking, before landing the opportunity with McLaren, the Formula 1 team and supercar manufacturer. After 6 years with McLaren, Paul went on to launch his own coaching and consulting practice and developed his RAPID framework.

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