Software Engineer’s Roadmap to Leadership
7-step guide to help you reach your goal faster
👋 Hi beloved Optimist Engineer, Marcos here!
Today’s issue features a special guest, Gábor Till. Here is Gábor’s introduction.
I’m Gábor Till, an Engineering Manager turned Mentor and Coach for Software Engineers. Over the past decade, I’ve transitioned from coding to leading high-performing teams and now help engineers like you navigate the same journey. My goal is to make your path to leadership smoother and faster by sharing actionable insights and strategies.
Thinking about becoming a Tech Lead?
It’s not just about writing better code.
On November 27th at 17:00 CET, I’ll share the step-by-step roadmap I used to go from Software Engineer to Engineering Manager.
✅ Build leadership skills, your team will respect.
✅ Learn how to grow beyond coding.
✅ Fast-track your career growth.
Spots are limited. Grab yours now 👇
https://www.gabortill.com/becoming-tech-lead-event
Without taking any more time, I'll hand the word 🎤 over to Gábor.
As an experienced Software Engineer, moving up the career ladder means stepping beyond technical problem-solving to take on bigger-picture challenges.
Whether you're aiming for Engineering Manager, Principal Engineer, or even CTO, your focus should be on team empowerment, strategy, and project leadership.
Here is a 7-step guide to help you reach your goal faster.
1. Master Your Current Role
Before stepping into leadership, prove you're indispensable in your current position. Excellence in your current role lays the groundwork for new opportunities.
Action Points:
Exceed Expectations: Consistently deliver quality work ahead of deadlines.
Simplify Complex Problems: Identify areas to improve team efficiency and solve recurring issues.
Show Initiative: Volunteer for cross-functional projects or opportunities to share knowledge.
2. Build Relationships Beyond Your Team
Leadership is about collaboration across the organization. Strengthening cross-department connections makes you visible and builds trust with decision-makers.
Action Points:
Start with Small Interactions: Join Slack channels, attend company-wide meetings, or set up informal chats.
Collaborate on Cross-Team Projects: Proactively seek opportunities to help other departments achieve their goals.
Learn Key Business Metrics: Understand how your work impacts broader company objectives.
3. Enhance Communication Skills
Great leaders communicate clearly and adapt their message to different audiences, from developers to executives.
Action Points:
Practice Summarizing: Explain technical issues in simple terms during team meetings.
Speak Up: Share your opinions in team discussions and retrospectives.
Seek Feedback: Ask peers and managers if your communication is clear and actionable.
4. Demonstrate Leadership in Your Role
You don’t need a formal title to lead. Start influencing and empowering your team from where you are.
Action Points:
Offer Mentorship: Help junior engineers grow by sharing knowledge or reviewing their code.
Propose Improvements: Suggest process changes to streamline workflows or reduce bottlenecks.
Encourage Collaboration: Promote a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas.
5. Develop Strategic Thinking
Leaders think beyond the next task. They align their work with long-term business and team goals.
Action Points:
Ask “Why?”: Understand the purpose behind the tasks you work on and how they fit into the big picture.
Propose Long-Term Solutions: Focus on solving problems in ways that benefit the company months or years down the line.
Stay Curious: Study your industry and competitors to identify trends your team can leverage.
6. Learn to Delegate Effectively
Leadership means empowering others, not doing everything yourself. Practice letting go of tasks while maintaining accountability.
Action Points:
Identify Growth Opportunities: Delegate tasks that help others develop new skills.
Trust Your Team: Avoid micromanaging; give clear instructions and allow others to take ownership.
Follow-up: Check on progress without taking back control, offering support as needed.
7. Showcase Your Growth
Your work should speak for itself, but you must also make your aspirations and achievements known.
Action Points:
Update Your Manager: Share your career goals in your next one-on-one.
Document Success: Track your contributions, like performance improvements or resolved challenges.
Network Within Your Company: Build visibility by participating in presentations or training sessions.
✨ Wrap Up
Transitioning from a Software Engineer to a leadership role requires intentional action. By building strong relationships, honing your communication skills, and demonstrating leadership, you’ll position yourself as the obvious choice for promotion.
The best time to start? Today.
Each step you take now sets the foundation for your promotion.
🫂 Thanks Gábor!
Marcos back!
I want to send a deep Thank You to Gábor Till for sharing his experience with all of us. We can find realistic action items to follow up and reach our goal. To learn more from Gábor, take a look at his newsletter Exceptional Engineering Newsletter.
We are ✨439 Optimist Engineers✨!! 🚀
Thanks for your support of my work here, really appreciate it!
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We can also say EM role change is not promotion but lateral move so give yourself enough time to avoid imposter syndrome feelings.
Btw, great post. Many actions will be helpful for me in future to get/grow into EM role. 👏