Not every senior engineer is cut out to be a Tech Team Lead. Some companies hire or promote based on seniority or salary rather than leadership potential. This role demands unique skills and acts as a critical bridge between engineering managers and teams.

🌉 The Lead’s Dual Role

A Team Lead balances technical execution and people leadership

• Translates strategy from managers into actionable tasks

• Shields the team from bureaucratic noise while escalating blockers

• Mentors juniors and ensures code quality 

Unlike managers, Leads stay mainly hands-on with code while fostering collaboration and accountability.

🔑 Non-Negotiable Skills

True leadership requires

1. Communication mastery to align technical and business goals 

3. Technical credibility to review code and solve complex issues 

4. Empathy to nurture growth and resolve conflicts 

5. Business acumen to prioritize solutions 

⚠️ The Seniority Trap

Promoting based solely on tenure could bring some risks

• Skill gaps in soft leadership capabilities 

• Disengaged teams from poorly delegated work 

• Bottlenecks when Leads lack strategic vision 

🧩Try to

• Implement leadership training programs to cultivate essential soft skills

• Create clear leadership tracks separated from individual contributor paths

• Assess candidates holistically, considering technical prowess, emotional intelligence, and leadership potential