So you think you can lead a team of software engineers?

Coding Chats episode 56 - Paul Grenyer discusses his journey to writing a book on team leadership, sharing insights on the differences between leadership and management, common mistakes new leaders make, the importance of delegation, and building trust within teams. He emphasizes the need for curiosity in understanding both technical and business domains, and reflects on the role of AI in software development. The discussion culminates in insights from his book, which aims to guide new leaders in navigating their roles effectively.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Team Leadership

08:44 Leadership vs Management

10:33 Common Mistakes of New Leaders

15:58 The Importance of Delegation

19:46 Curiosity in Leadership

22:33 Insights from the Book

27:57 The Role of Technical Skills in Leadership

31:58 The Impact of AI on Software Engineering

Paul's Links:

Paul's website: https://paulgrenyer.com/

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways

Letting go of doing the work is crucial for leaders.

Listening to your team is essential for effective leadership.

Delegation is often the hardest skill for new leaders to master.

Building trust requires admitting mistakes and being approachable.

Curiosity about team members' experiences can lead to better solutions.

Technical knowledge helps leaders mediate and understand team dynamics.

AI can enhance productivity but requires careful implementation.

Leadership is about guiding a team towards a common goal.

Understanding the business domain is vital for effective leadership.

Encouraging a fun and open team culture fosters collaboration.