Lead Dev 2016 London: What I wish I knew as first time lead dev

• Patric Kua (Toughworks) @patkua

1. as a developer

Job was looking at code and wanting to deliver.

What was cool :

• fast feedback (UT, monitoring…)
• problems are solved rapidly (in hours, days)
• building systems to make an impact

How to make the move from developer to lead developer ? What does it mean ?

2. First time as a lead dev

It was scary. As a developer, learned a lot everyday. What to do do now ? He felt like an imposter.

The path os rocky, with a lot of mistakes. As a tech lead, your impact is amplified.

Mistakes not to do:

• writting code all the time (because it feels safe)
• make all technical decisions (you don’t have all the info). What is left for the others ?
• people is someone else’s problem
• the team known what they are doing. Your responsability is to make everyone aligned, resolve problems as a team (with concensus)

3. A wiser tech lead

• the world will no longer be binary
  • feedback takes days, weeks
  • don’t know if it’s the right action
  • -> the trap is to (re)act too rapidly
• you don’t need to have all the answers: the whole team is there to back you up
  • expose your vulnerability
  • help people grow
  • “I don’t know, let’s ask someone who knows.”
• your role is not to be liked by everyone (example, fable from Esope “the man, the boy and the donkey”)
• you are not alone
  • as a dev, you were part of a team
  • as a lead dev, you are a little out of the team. They are other people outside the team to help you. -> build your own support network
• non tech areas are as just as important
  • less instant gratification
  • invest time in all areas
• people are complex. don’t think of developers just as a collective group. Think of each person individually, what are their passions, what they do on theirs week ends… It takes time (it’s a lot of conversations). Create a feedback culture.
• you can’t do everything yourself. Use the situational leadership model.
  • two axis, supporting, and directing
  • 4 phases: sell, tell, participate, delegate
  • how do you progress people between these phases ?
• they are many ways to be a leader
  • coach: asking questions to let people connect the dots
  • shepherd: help people along the path
  • shaman: (story telling ability) why things are the way they are
  • champion: protect the team, to give them space
• you have a secret power: saying no. Focus on where there is the most value. Important things before urgent things.
• your role gives greater impact

4. the journey never ends

Continue to learn

https://2016.theleaddeveloper.com/talks