This course equips technical leaders with the mindset, tools, and strategies to lead with credibility and impact. We will teach you key mindset shifts, communication strategies, and common pitfalls to avoid as a technical leader. You will apply methods for building trust, fostering collaboration, making sound decisions, and addressing modern challenges such as distributed teams, asynchronous communication, and change management. You will walk away prepared to adapt, take ownership, and inspire in an ever-evolving technical landscape.
Learning Objectives »
- Define the role and responsibilities of a technical leader.
- Identify key qualities and interpersonal skills.
- Shift from a contributor mindset to a leadership perspective.
- Apply effective communication strategies.
- Foster trust and collaboration within technical teams.
- Make informed decisions under pressure.
- Coach and develop team members.
- Adapt to change and leverage innovation practices.
Course Agenda
From Code to Credibility
- Defining Technical Leadership
- Technical Leader vs. Technical Manager
- Technical Myths and Misconceptions
- Leadership Responsibilities and Qualities
- Essential Technical Leadership Roles
- Underlying Problems
- Interpersonal Skills and Their Importance
From Individual Contributor to Leader
- Shifting Your Mindset
- Developing a Growth Mindset
- From Problem Solver to Team Enabler
- Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Leading Technical Teams Effectively
- Understanding Your Team
- Who Are You Communicating With?
- Technical Communication Styles
- Strategies for Collaboration
- Non-Technical Communication Styles
- Adjusting Communication for Expertise
- Making It Too Complex
- Jargon and Terminology Problems
Building Trust & Collaboration
- The “Teach, Test, and Transfer” Model
- Motivating To Share
- The “80/20” Rule
- Development Team Huddles
- Post-Mortem Practices and Playbook
Decision-Making & Problem-Solving
- Balancing Speed and Accuracy
- Decision-Making Under Pressure
- Risk-Based Decision-Making
- Managing Trade-Offs
- Steelman Argument and Socratic Questions
Coaching & Developing Your Team
- Balancing Praise and Critique
- SBI and COIN Models
- Tips for Giving Feedback
- Ownership and Initiative in Projects
Leading in a Changing Landscape
- Addressing Fear of Change
- Distributed Tech Teams
- Asynchronous Communication
- Hack Days
