How to Get the Most Out of Your CS Leadership Training

Welcome to CS Dojo—your training ground for first-time CS leaders.

Leadership isn’t a one-time event—it’s a journey. The best leaders don’t learn from a single session; they refine, adapt, and continuously grow. It’s okay to join once, but the real magic happens when you keep coming back. Each session builds on the last, giving you the space to apply, iterate, and master the skills that make great CS leaders.

💡 Why “Dojo”?
A dojo is a place of discipline, training, and mastery. In martial arts, students return to the dojo to practice, refine their skills, and learn from experienced mentors. That’s exactly what we do here—train, grow, and push each other to become better CS leaders.

What to Expect

📌 Real talk, real challenges, and real solutions. No fluff, just actionable insights.
📌 A structured discussion format. You’ll hear from experts, but this is a conversation, not a lecture.
📌 The Hot Seat. One participant will bring a leadership challenge to the group for feedback and coaching.
📌 Live polling for additional challenges. The group will vote on 1-3 more leadership questions to discuss.
📌 Action & accountability. You’ll leave with a clear action step and check back in the next session.
📌 Limited to 20 participants – so this stays engaging, intimate, and impactful.

How to Prepare

1. Hot Seat preparation (only if selected)

If you are selected for The Hot Seat, we’ll inform you in advance. You’ll need to prepare a specific leadership challenge using the SQC format (Situation → Question → Context).

Example:
✅ Situation: “I recently transitioned from IC to team lead and struggle with setting boundaries.”
✅ Question: “How do I step into authority without micromanaging or being too hands-off?”
✅ Context: “My team was my peer group before, so I feel awkward asserting leadership.”

💡 Why use SQC?

• Keeps your question concise & actionable.

• Helps experts understand your challenge quickly so they can give better advice.

• Ensures we focus on problem-solving, not just venting.

2. General guidance for everyone

Even if you’re not in The Hot Seat, you’ll be contributing.

To make the most of the session:

✔️ Prepare a short 10-30 second intro. Who you are, your role, and what you’re looking to get out of the session.
✔️ Be ready to engage. Ask questions, contribute insights, and participate in discussions.
✔️ This is a safe space. What happens in CS Dojo stays in CS Dojo. Be open, transparent, and vulnerable. We all learn best from real experiences, not polished stories.
✔️ Give and receive feedback with respect. Everyone is here to grow.

3. Basic Housekeeping Rules

🔴 Keep your camera on (if possible). Seeing faces fosters a stronger discussion.
🔴 Mute yourself when not speaking. Avoid background noise disruptions.
🔴 Use the “Raise Hand” feature if you want to chime in. Helps keep the conversation smooth.
🔴 Be mindful of time. Keep responses or questions concise (use the SQC format) so we can cover multiple topics.
🔴 The session will be recorded & notes will be taken. Focus on the discussion—no need to take excessive notes.

After the session: Keep learning & stay connected

Join our private Slack group – The conversation doesn’t stop when the session ends. Share takeaways, ask follow-up questions, and keep learning from the group. Find the channel #csdojo

Accountability Check-in next session – Before the next session (if you choose to join), we’ll check in on your action step. Share with the group what worked? What didn’t? What did you learn?

Apply What You Learn — or Risk Forgetting It All

Most people forget 90% of what they learn within a week unless they do something with it. That’s the forgetting curve in action.

We’re not here to fill your head—we’re here to equip you to lead better.

To maximize your retention and results:

1. Write down one insight + one action step before you leave the session.
   → Clarity beats overwhelm. Pick one thing you’re going to try.

2. Share your commitment in the session.
   → Saying it out loud makes it stick—and keeps you accountable.

3. Revisit your notes within 24 hours.
   → Take 10 minutes the next day to reflect. Reinforcement = retention.

4. Take action within 7 days.
   → Knowledge becomes skill only when applied. Don’t wait for perfect timing.

5. Engage in the Slack group.
   → Ask follow-ups, share updates, and learn from others trying the same things.

This isn’t about hoarding advice.
It’s about turning insight into momentum.