Hey Tech Leads,

Last week we did a deep dive into the mysterious topic of influence as a tech lead. Hopefully I dispelled the notion that only some gifted folks have it. It's actually pretty easy to define and an easy skill to develop, if very hard to execute day to day.

This week we're going to do something a bit less focused but hopefully no less impactful for you. I hope, at the end of the week, some of the themes will come together.

On Monday, we're going to explore the idea that everything as a tech lead takes ten times as much effort as you think it is. It's not the code--that's the easy part. It's all the other stuff: the coordination, the follow ups, the miscommunications. But it's OK! This is real, important work.

On Wednesday, I'm going to dive into a sensitive topic, for me anyway. Having interviewed for many engineering manager and tech lead roles at very large and very small companies (and everything in between), I have ideas that might run a little contrary to some of the common guidance out there.

On Friday, I may flip the script on what I'm going to say on Wednesday so we cover both ends of the spectrum. Despite what I'm planning to say on Wednesday, the famous college basketball coach, John Wooden's favorite quote was this:

No written word, no spoken plea can teach our youth what they should be, nor all the books on all the shelves, it’s what the teachers are themselves.

How's that for cryptic? It's going to be an interesting week, so join us and it should all come clear!

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