Why is becoming a tech lead a great opportunity for you? 

Becoming a tech lead is an excellent opportunity simply because it allows you to develop yourself, both professionally and personally, by taking greater responsibilities and dealing with the other side of the job. 

But becoming a tech lead involves more than only overseeing the technical work of your team. It goes beyond, and it has to do with the interpersonal skills and management of your team.  

So, what to do so you don’t start your leadership role on the wrong foot? P.S. You can download our guide here to get your foot in the door to becoming a tech lead!

What soft skills should a tech lead have? 

A leadership position comes with big responsibilities. After all, you will be dealing with people, which means you will have to know how to handle your team effectively. And for that, we don’t mean only the technical stuff. 

Naturally, in order to take this new role in the company, you must have the technical knowledge needed and some experience in managing projects.  

However, it also involves other aspects like: 

• Handle your team 
• Effectively communicate with them and other parties involved in the project 
• Be capable of making decisions that will keep the quality of work, etc. 

Therefore, developing soft skills, that is, skills related to emotional health and interpersonal relationships, are essential to execute a tech lead role. 

So, we have gathered four fundamental soft skills a tech lead should have (or develop) to execute a good job as a technology leader. 

Check them out! 

Interpersonal Communication

Have you ever heard the phrase that says communication is the key? Well, it is. 

To become an effective tech lead, you should communicate well with your team and with the other parties of the project.  

Since you will be in a management position, having communication skills is crucial. 

You must have clear communication with your team giving specific directions to them and hearing their questions and needs.  

Having effective interpersonal communication will only help you and your team to achieve good outcomes in the projects you work on.  

Empathy 

One of the most important soft skills a tech lead (or any leader) should have is empathy. After all, when you assume a leadership position, you will be dealing with people. 

Hence, you should be open to help your team. Hear them out, understand what is going on with your team, and try to put yourself in their place.  

In the end, you will realize that you may also have to go through some difficulties before you become a tech lead. And that it was nice to have a leader that was there to help you out.  

If you didn’t, well, just work on this to become the leader you wish you had! 

Project Management 

As well as knowing how to handle your team is essential to become a tech lead. Having some project management experience is also an excellent plus. 

If you want to become a tech lead, you must start considering applying to manage some projects to gain more experience in a management role. 

Having this kind of experience will help you understand important aspects related to the management of a team and the establishment of effective communication with managers. 

Leadership

At last, a tech lead cannot assume the role without developing leadership skills. As we said before, in the skillset of a technical leader, having leadership abilities is crucial to execute a good job. 

And that involves being confident and able to give clear directions to your teammates, gain their trust, being supportive and empathetic of your team, passing through the objectives and the vision of the business and simply be there to help and mentor them.  

How do you become a tech lead? 

Now that you know the skillset a tech lead should have, it is time to learn how to become one. Check some things you should do! 

Be transparent 

The first thing you should know is that you are not expected to know everything.  

Therefore, when you realize you don’t know how to do something or need clearer directions on a project to complete it. Just be transparent about it with your stakeholders. We assure you they will appreciate your honesty. 

Be proactive 

See a problem? Fix it! 

Taking a proactive attitude, proposing solutions, and simply making yourself notable as someone willing to do the necessary to solve a problem will definitely make a difference if you are considering a tech lead role. 

Be available

A new project comes up, and managers need someone to lead. What to do? Here is your opportunity to make yourself available! 

Volunteering to be a lead or co-lead on a project will make managers realize you want to take on more responsibilities and are ready to take a new role in the company. 

Seek a mentor 

Becoming a tech lead is a new challenge in your career. So, why not talk to people who already got where you want to be?  

Seeking mentors and creating connections with tech leads is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the job and be more prepared for when your time comes (and doing networking is never too much, right?!). 

Now you have everything you need to become a technical leader. So, take this knowledge and start looking for a tech lead role that will fit your abilities and fulfill your needs!  

If you are a technology professional looking to connect to organizations that value your diverse background and the unique experiences you bring, click HERE to apply to work with a MinTech Agency recruiter and land your dream job!