Episode 449: My tech lead ignored my warnings and I don't know what my leadership style is
Feb 24, 2025
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A listener grapples with whether to notify a former tech lead about a recurring bug after leaving their team, raising questions about boundaries in professional relationships. The hosts discuss the importance of theory building and the art of effective communication in software development. They also explore the challenges of defining personal leadership styles during interviews, encouraging self-reflection to articulate one’s unique approach. Along the way, they highlight the role of constructive feedback in maintaining positive developer-tech lead dynamics.
Addressing unresolved issues within team dynamics is crucial for collaboration, even after transitioning away from a previous role.
Understanding and articulating one's leadership style requires self-reflection on past experiences and practical applications rather than relying on abstract definitions.
Deep dives
The Challenge of LinkedIn Engagement
The hosts discuss their conflicted feelings about engaging with LinkedIn, highlighting how it has evolved from a professional networking tool to a distracting social platform. They express annoyance at the barrage of posts that feel trivial, such as job announcements and light commentary on leadership principles. This transformation has made them cautious about spending time on the platform, noting its propensity to consume attention without producing meaningful benefits. They emphasize that while LinkedIn serves some utility, it is often more of a distraction than a helpful tool in their professional lives.
Navigating Team Dynamics Post-Refactor
A listener faces a dilemma after changing teams and discovering a persistent bug in a code refactor initiated by their old team. The listener is unsure whether to inform the tech lead about the bug or let it go since they are no longer part of that team. The discussion highlights the complexities of team dynamics, especially the risks of overstepping boundaries while wanting to ensure the team's success. The hosts agree that tactfully bringing the issue to the tech lead's attention is crucial, as it may help avoid unnecessary work and frustration for both teams.
Understanding Leadership Styles
The inquiry into how to articulate one's leadership style during interviews raises questions about what interviewers genuinely seek. Rather than expecting a simple definition or label, interviewers look for indications of self-awareness and a coherent strategy for people management. The hosts suggest that candidates should prepare to discuss their experiences and preferred approaches to leadership, emphasizing that knowing one's style is often about reflecting on past actions and decision-making processes. It’s essential for interviewees to recognize that their leadership style is not merely a label but should instead emerge from understanding their own tendencies and behaviors.
Evaluating Leadership through Experience
The conversation shifts to the importance of grounding one's leadership style in real-world experiences rather than relying on abstract concepts or buzzwords. The hosts propose the idea of expressing one's style based on specific actions taken or challenges faced in previous roles. They suggest preparing for interviews by visualizing scenarios in which you would lead a team and identifying the traits you would exhibit. This practical approach not only aids in interview preparation but also fosters a deeper understanding of one's leadership ethos and can lead to more authentic responses.
In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:
Hello, long time listener first time question asker. I work for a medium sized tech company and I recently moved teams. Right now my old team is attempting to refactor a bunch of code I wrote to use a library that’ll make life easier. I don’t blame them, I tried to do the same thing. It does not work. I asked the tech lead “did you run into the same framework bug I did when I tried this refactor”… “nope” he said. So out of curiosity I pulled down the branch and guess what I saw, the same bug when I tried this refactor 3 months ago. Now I am in a weird position. Do I tell the tech lead again (he was the tech lead when I tried this same refactor) that this does not work or do I ignore it because I am no longer on that team? I don’t want to overstep my bounds but I also know its a lot of work to refactor all this code, so much work they’d need to stop delivering features and add this to their roadmap.
I have been interviewing for leadership roles and I keep getting asked “What is your Leadership Style”? I am honestly not quite sure how to answer this as I don’t really understand what they are asking. I have searched the internet for a clean, 5th normal form database that lists the available styles to no avail with no definitive tables. It seems this is truly a soft skill. From your experience, what is the interviewer really asking in this case, how can I better identify common styles, and what can I do to grow my skills in this area?
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