Transitioning to a Technical Leader position is big challenge. Here are a few practical tips on how to survive the transition and thrive in the new role.
As a Tech Lead you need to pay attention to 3 things:
- Are we connected to the rest of the company?
- Are the humans in my team growing professionally?
- Are we delivering value to the business?
If you are doing these 3 things well, congrats! You are an awesome Tech Lead.
Are we connected to the rest of the company?
As an IC (Individual Contributor) it is generally easier to ignore what’s happening outside of Engineering and just focus on the work in front of you. As a Tech Leader, you want to consider opportunity costs and make sure that what your team is working on makes sense in a larger context (e.g., your department or the whole company).
Typically the best way to start creating this connection with the rest of the rest of the company is to foster a great relationship with you Product Manager and Stakeholders. Get to know who they are, what they are really good at, what keeps them up at night, and what their goals are.
Are the humans in my team growing professionally?
Growth is not only about promotions and salary raises. Get to know the people in your team. What are their goals? What motivates them? What do they want to learn and could you create space for them to learn that at work?
It is helpful to understand the 3 main drivers of intrinsic motivation:
- Autonomy - do people feel in control of their destinies inside the company? Not necessarily full control.
- Mastery - do they feel like they are becoming better professionals? Is there a sense of progress?
- Purpose - does their work connect to a larger purpose? Can they connect what they do day-to-day with something they personally care about?
"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink is a great book to learn more about this.
There is also a bonus 4th driver:
- Community - do they identify and feel connected with the other humans they interact with at work?
Are we delivering value to the business?
Even if you work at a charitable organization, your organization has goals. How is the work your team does collaborating to that? How painful would it be to the company in the sort and long-term if your team didn't exist?