The idea of the “10x engineer” has been around for decades. It suggests that some engineers are inherently more productive, more impactful, or more valuable than others.
But is that really the right way to think about excellence in software development?
In this episode of Le Podcast on Emerging Leadership, I had the pleasure of welcoming Julien Danjou, an open source software hacker with more than 20 years of experience and the author of several books on Python.
Questioning the 10x engineer myth
I invited Julien to discuss the myth of 10x engineers and to share his perspective on how engineers actually grow their skills and impact over time.
Very quickly, the conversation moved beyond code.
According to Julien, while technical skills are important, two other dimensions are essential:
- understanding the business, and
- understanding the social component of work.
Beyond technical excellence
Great engineers do more than write efficient code.
They:
- understand the context in which their work creates value
- communicate effectively with others
- collaborate across roles and disciplines
- and take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks
These capabilities multiply impact far more reliably than individual technical speed.
Examples you can apply immediately
One of the strengths of this conversation is how concrete it is. Julien shares examples drawn from real experience, all of which can be applied immediately by engineers who want to grow.
The discussion resonated strongly with me and aligns closely with the ideas Michael and I share in our book I am a Software Engineer and I am in Charge.
Further references
You can find more about Julien and his work here:
A final thought
If you are an engineer looking to grow, or a leader wondering how to support excellence without relying on hero myths, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective.
The real multiplier is not being 10x faster, but being 10x more connected to people, context, and purpose.
Le Podcast – Season Two
- Playful Leadership: Helping Others Be Their Best
- Blessed, Grateful, and Human
- Build the Right Product, with Gojko Adzic
- Hiring and Diversity Without Dropping the Bar
- Leadership and Teamwork in a Crisis
- Chief of Staff: The Role, the Craft, the Community
- Belonging, Identity, and Better Hiring,
- What Software Teams Can Learn from Sporting Teams
- Agile and Open Innovation: Building the Bridge Between Tech and Business
- Radical Focus: OKRs, Cadence, and the “Seduction of the Task”
- Human-Centric Agility Coaching: The Expert Paradox and the Ideology Paradox
- The Job of an Open Leader: Context, Trust, and Growing Others
Le Podcast – Season One
- Growing as a Software Engineer: Learning, Sharing, and Impact
- Thirteen Rules for Building Strong Teams
- OKRs in Practice: Learning, Focus, and Common Pitfalls
- The Myth of 10x Engineers: Growing Beyond Technical Skills
- The Anatomy of Peace: Leadership Starts With Who You Are
- Psychological Safety: Creating Teams Where People Can Speak Up
- Leading Distributed Teams: Collaboration Across Time Zones
- Changing Your Team from the Inside: A Practitioner’s View on Leadership
- Why Shared Language Matters: How Terms Shape Collaboration
- How (Not) to Give Feedback: Responsibility, Ego, and Relationships
- Rock Stars and Superstars: Supporting Growth Without Losing Stability
- Do Cultural Differences Really Block Agile Adoption?
- How to Create Great Goals: Using OKRs to Focus on Impact
- Making Change from the Inside: Leadership Beyond Management Roles
- How to Form a Cross-Functional Team That Actually Works
Comments
One response to “The Myth of 10x Engineers: Growing Beyond Technical Skills”
[…] To learn Julien’s three tips for how software engineers can become more successful, listen to the podcast I recorded with him (33m06s). […]