Team Multiplication

Actively developing team capabilities and creating growth opportunities for others. As Will Larson says: 'You're far more likely to change your company's long-term trajectory by growing the engineers around you than through personal heroics.' The effective Tech Lead identifies stretch opportunities for team members and sponsors them to take them, rather than hoarding interesting or high-visibility work. Invests time in code reviews that teach, not just approve or reject, making reviews that are educational without being demotivating. Creates documentation, guides, and templates that enable others to work independently, avoiding being the 'bottleneck' because only they know how to do certain things. Effective mentoring multiplies team impact beyond what the Tech Lead can achieve individually.

Delegating effectively, providing the necessary context for others to make good decisions. The effective Tech Lead delegates outcomes, not tasks, giving context about the 'why' and letting the team determine the 'how', rather than micromanaging after delegating. Graduates delegation according to seniority and risk: more guidance for juniors, more autonomy for seniors, treating each person according to their experience and context. When things go wrong after delegating, takes responsibility and adjusts the approach rather than blaming the team, recognizing that effective delegation requires both giving adequate context and being available for support when needed. Effective delegation enables the team to work independently while maintaining alignment with objectives.

Facilitating resolution of technical disagreements in a way that strengthens the team rather than dividing it. The effective Tech Lead facilitates technical discussions ensuring all voices are heard, especially the most junior, rather than letting the loudest or most senior voices dominate. When consensus is not possible, makes clear decisions explaining the rationale and committing to reevaluate if there's new information, avoiding paralyzing the team waiting for consensus that never comes. Depersonalizes technical conflicts, focusing on objective trade-offs rather than 'my idea vs your idea', and prevents technical disagreements from becoming personal or political. Effective conflict resolution strengthens the team by creating an environment where different perspectives are valued and decisions are made transparently.