Akhilesh Bhale is the Director of Delivery at InfoBeans Technologies. He has worked with InfoBeans for the past 15 years. He has 18+ years of professional experience. For the past 8 years, he has been managing a diverse team of around 50 software developers in Microsoft's technology stack and data engineering services. He describes himself as a passionate programmer and an avid cricket fan. He spends his free time traveling through the jungles of India.
Tell us about the leadership techniques for accelerating organizational growth. What do you think are the best leadership approaches, and how do you use them?
In my experience, the best leadership approach is to communicate your vision clearly. A good leader is one who can develop strong relationships with the team, and create a culture of trust and collaboration. I believe that it is very important to set a positive tone and create an environment that fosters growth and development.
It's crucial for your team to be open to feedback, which requires being receptive to new ideas and perspectives and adapting your team's approaches when necessary. Honesty and openness are two fundamental principles that leaders should embrace to accelerate organizational growth and create a thriving workplace culture.
While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for leadership and management, it is always best to adapt according to the situation, context, and needs. More than anything, leaders must prioritize fostering a supportive workplace where team members feel appreciated, respected, and supported.
How has your approach to leadership helped your team succeed? What is the most important factor in building a strong team?
I believe that a team will only produce their best work when there is mutual trust between the team and their leaders, and the team believes in their leadership. This trust is built when team members know that their hard work will be rewarded, and they have complete confidence that their leaders will support and guide them when needed. Once this happens, it creates a win-win for all the stakeholders - be it team member, organization, client and the leaders themselves.
The key to building a strong team is to demonstrate care for team members, and everything else will fall into place. It is important to create an environment of trust, respect, and open communication. In my work, I make an active effort to be transparent, show empathy, and actively listen to my team members. Since my team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions, they collaborate more effectively and produce better results.
One more factor is providing clear goals and expectations, as well as the necessary resources and support to achieve them. Leaders should set realistic targets, clearly define each team member's role and responsibilities, and provide them with the tools, training, and feedback they need to succeed.
Also, recognition and celebration of team accomplishments can be powerful motivators. Recognizing individual contributions and highlighting team successes creates a sense of pride and unity within the team, which can further strengthen team cohesion and performance. In my experience, a small pat on the back or an email with a “Good Job” note makes a huge difference.
In a nutshell, creating a culture of trust, respect, and open communication is crucial. Besides, providing clear goals, necessary resources, recognizing and celebrating accomplishments are all important factors in building a strong team that can achieve great success and accelerate organizational growth.
It is important to create an environment of trust, respect, and open communication.
What is the technology stack? What are some valuable tips for beginners in Stack technology?
Currently, I manage 2 different practices that fall under product engineering services - Application programming and Data Engineering & Business Intelligence.
In Application programming, we use ASP.Net core, MVC, WebAPI, Angular, Javascript, JQuery for the front end and middle tier. For databases, we work with MS SQL server, Oracle, MarkLogic which is a NoSQL database for enterprises. We’re also working on CMS platforms like WordPress and Magento.
For Data engineering & BI, we are working on MSBI, PowerBI, Tableau, Qlikview, Qlik sense, Informatica, Talend, Snowflake, Adobe Omniture, Alteryx, Azure data factory, data lakes, data bricks and custom Python programming
For beginners, I would advise them to understand the basics and create a solid foundation on which to build their knowledge. Hands-on experience is very valuable.
Start building projects on your own. There are many online resources available, including documentation, tutorials, forums, and communities. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your understanding.
It's also important to stay up to date with the latest trends and updates. Follow relevant blogs, attend webinars, and participate in online communities to keep your knowledge fresh. The most important advice is to collaborate with other developers to learn new skills and share knowledge. Join open source projects, attend hackathons, and participate in online forums to build your network and learn from others.
What do you do to stay updated with the latest industry developments and technologies?
I read blogs and technology articles to keep myself up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in the technology industry. Apart from that, attending seminars, conferences, and meetups are good ways to stay informed and connected with other professionals in the field.
In addition to these, I recently completed a one-year certification course, General Management Programme for Executives (GMPE) from IIM Indore, which gave me a good understanding and perspective on various streams of Management including HRM, Operations, Strategy and Entrepreneurship.
"Being organized, using best practices, and making the most of available resources make you an indispensable asset to any team or organization."
With decades of experience, what values are most crucial to you as a web developer? What sets you apart from other players in the market?
Not specifically a web developer but as a programmer, I think the most important values or traits are:
Attention to detail or Meticulousness: In development, small details can make a big difference. It's essential to pay close attention to every aspect of any application Web, desktop or mobile, including design, functionality, and user experience.
Continuous learning: Technology and programming methodologies are constantly evolving, and it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. A willingness to continuously learn and improve is crucial to succeeding in this field.
Collaboration and Proactiveness: Application development is rarely a solo endeavor, and collaboration with designers, developers, clients, and other stakeholders is essential. Being able to work effectively in a team environment is crucial for success. Along with it, you also need to be proactive in all senses, be it status reporting, any trouble you anticipate, or any risk you observe. This will help build a trust with all stakeholders
User-focused approach: At the heart of development is creating experiences that meet the needs and expectations of users. A user-focused approach involves understanding user behavior and preferences and designing solutions that meet those needs.
Efficiency: Being organized, using best practices, and making the most of available resources make you an indispensable asset to any team or organization. In development, time is money. It's important to be able to work efficiently and effectively to deliver projects on time and within budget.
What sets me apart from the others is the blend of technology, managerial, and communication skills, along with the compassion and empathy I have for others. This helps me effectively lead and motivate my team to deliver the best.
Apart from that, I keep myself updated with newer technologies and trends. This allows me to provide better consulting services to clients and support my team with the necessary resources and knowledge. In addition to it, I believe I have a collaborative and team-oriented approach, which is essential to being successful in a competitive world.
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