How to become Tech Lead // Beyond Coding #20 - Patrick Akil with Mahdi Fanidisfani

Transitioning

Mahdi Fanidisfani shares his journey from a software engineer to a tech lead, emphasizing the importance of self-assessment and growth. He highlights the transition as a gradual process, where one must evaluate their dependency on others to gauge readiness for advancement 1. Mahdi explains that a tech lead is not just a leader but also a hands-on coder, responsible for ensuring timely and quality deliveries 2.

You have to understand, when you want to become a tech lead, it doesn't mean you are the God. So don't wait for the moment that there are no questions that you cannot answer, but then go for it.

--- Mahdi Fanidisfani

He stresses the importance of confidence and the willingness to learn from peers, which are crucial for a successful transition 3.

   

Skills

Becoming a tech lead requires a distinct set of skills that go beyond technical expertise. Mahdi emphasizes the need for time management, stress control, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and business stakeholders 4. He points out that decision-making is a critical skill, as tech leads must often choose between multiple solutions and bear the responsibility for those choices 5.

You should say about the weaknesses or about the things that you don't know about them.

--- Mahdi Fanidisfani

Mahdi advises aspiring tech leads to be vocal about their limitations and to seek help when necessary, fostering a collaborative environment.

   

Growth Paths

The path to becoming a tech lead involves choosing between technical depth and people management. Mahdi explains that tech leads can evolve into roles like senior tech lead or platform tech lead, each with its own focus 6. He notes that growth is not just about title changes but also about gaining new responsibilities and autonomy 7.

When you become also a manager, I mean this is myself in my free time for personal kind of joy. I still keeping close to the tech and understand what's going on.

--- Mahdi Fanidisfani

Mahdi stresses the importance of maintaining a connection to technical work, even as one moves into management, to ensure effective leadership and communication with engineering teams.