Tech leaders must constantly dive into execution and surface for strategy, like a whale, to keep momentum without losing direction.
Leaders get trapped in the grind of meetings, code reviews, and delivery pressure until they forget to ask where the team is headed. The article argues that the real failure isn't a lack of vision, but execution swallowing attention. When day-to-day work feels urgent, strategy looks optional until it's too late.
The solution is a rhythm: dive deep into the details to stay grounded, then surface regularly to think strategically. The whale metaphor illustrates this cycle-deep dives for hunting, then surfacing for air and reorientation. By making the switch intentional, leaders keep both the ship and the compass aligned.
Applying this means scheduling deliberate breaks from tactical work to review goals, map next steps, and adjust course. It isn't about abandoning execution; it's about preventing it from becoming a black hole that erodes long-term direction. The piece gives leaders a concrete mental model to balance immediate delivery with future-focused thinking.
Check out the full stdlib collection for more frameworks, templates, and guides to accelerate your technical leadership journey.