book

Leveling Up as a Tech Lead

Name: Leveling Up as a Tech Lead
Author: Anemari Fiser
ISBN: 9781098177515

by Anemari Fiser

November 2025

Beginner

392 pages

12h 7m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Includes

Quizzes

Foreword
Preface
Why I Wrote This BookHow to Effectively Use This BookConventions Used in This BookO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
1. The Role of a Tech Lead
What Is a Tech Lead?Defining the ScopeTech Lead Versus Team Lead Versus Lead Developer Versus Engineering ManagerDay-to-day ResponsibilitiesUnderstanding the Expectations of Your RoleRead the Job DescriptionReflect on What Applies to You and HowWhat If There Is No Job Description?Is This Role a Good Fit for Me?Common Pathways to Becoming a Tech LeadTaking Over the Role on Your Current TeamTaking Over the Role on Another TeamBuilding and Leading a Brand-New TeamRequired Skills and Mindset ShiftsTechnical SkillsLeadership SkillsMindset ChangesIntegrating AI into Your TeamKey Takeaway
2. How to Become a Tech Lead
Setting the Foundation for GrowthBuild a Growth MindsetClarify ExpectationsAssess Your Starting PointDeveloping a Personal Growth PlanStep 1: Define a Clear GoalStep 2: Define the Steps to Get ThereStep 3: Build a TimelineStep 4: Build a Support NetworkStep 5: Identify Opportunities and ResourcesImplementing the Growth PlanReflectTrack Your ProgressAdjustOvercoming Common Initial ChallengesTime ManagementAvoiding the “Therapist” TrapAvoiding MicromanagingBalancing Building and LeadingKey Takeaway
3. Building Relationships
The Value of Building Strong RelationshipsHow to Build Strong RelationshipsCommunicate EffectivelyCommunicate ConstantlyBe Transparent in Your CommunicationFollow Through on CommitmentsWho to Build Relationships WithTeam MembersManagersOther StakeholdersCommon Challenges and How to Overcome ThemIt Feels Awkward to Start ConversationsHow Do I Keep Relationships Strong over Time?We Just Don’t Speak the Same LanguageBuilding Relationships as an IntrovertKey Takeaway
4. Running One-on-Ones with Your Team
The Value of One-on-OnesMake Your Life EasierStrengthen Individual RelationshipsSupport People’s GrowthSet Up Your One-on-Ones for SuccessStick to a Regular CadenceAgree on Agenda and ExpectationsKnow What Topics to CoverCreate a Safe SpaceTrack ConversationsAvoid Common One-on-One PitfallsOvercoming Common ChallengesNothing to Talk AboutGround Rules Are Not RespectedFeeling Pressure to Solve ProblemsKey Takeaway
5. Unlocking the Power of Feedback
How to Get Useful Feedback from Your TeamHow to Ask for FeedbackHow to Receive FeedbackWhat to Do with the Received FeedbackHow to Give Useful Feedback to Your TeamUnderstanding the Five Principles of Good FeedbackHow to Give Positive FeedbackHow to Give Constructive FeedbackOvercoming Common Challenges“I have no feedback to give”“I cannot get my team to give me constructive feedback”Building a Feedback Culture on Your TeamKey Takeaway
6. Delegating
Benefits of DelegationGaining Time for YouHelping Your Team (and Yourself) GrowBoosting Team PerformanceDelegation Process: Step-by-StepWhat to DelegateWho to Delegate ToChoose the Right Delegation StrategySet Clear ExpectationsFollow UpStay AccountableWhy Tech Leads Struggle to Delegate and How to Overcome ItAfraid of Losing ControlWorried About the Outcome“It’s quicker and easier to just do it myself”Afraid of Losing the CreditKey Takeaway
7. Building and Scaling Tech Teams
Recruiting and Onboarding DevelopersIdentifying Team NeedsEffective Recruiting and Interviewing StrategiesOnboarding EffectivelyBuilding a High-Performing TeamUnderstand the Five Dynamics of a High-Performing TeamHow to Build a Healthy Team CultureHow to Create Psychological Safety on Your TeamWhat Happens When Psychological Safety Is LostHow to Evaluate If Your Team Is High-PerformingHow to Approach Performance ReviewsHow to Prepare for Your Own Performance ReviewHow to Help Your Team Prepare for Their ReviewsWhat to Do After the Review ConversationMake Performance Reviews a Continuous ProcessCommon Challenges and How to Overcome ThemBuilding an Onboarding Process from ScratchEnabling Collaboration Inside the TeamDealing with Underperformance on the TeamKey Takeaway
8. Addressing Technical Challenges
Architectural Strategies and ImplementationDefining a System Architecture from ScratchImproving an Existing System ArchitectureVisualizing a System ArchitectureDefining and Managing Cross-Functional RequirementsBalancing Innovation and StabilityIntegration and DeploymentDelivering Value ContinuouslyDefining Your Path to ProductionContinuously TestingCommon Technical Challenges and How to Overcome ThemManaging Technical DebtDealing with IncidentsDocumentation or No Documentation?Key Takeaway

9. Managing Technical Projects
Aligning Your Team on a Common Tech StrategyBuild a Technical Vision (and Turn It into a Strategy)Help Your Team Make Technical DecisionsTrack Technical Decisions—Architecture Decision RecordsEncouraging Technical ExcellenceDefine Team StandardsAim for Fast FeedbackEnsure Quality Through TestingCommon Project Management ChallengesPlanning and Keeping a Project on TrackResponding to Project DelaysBalancing Multiple Streams of WorkManaging Technical RiskKey Takeaway
10. Bringing It All Together: Navigating Technical Leadership
Developing and Growing Technical TalentAssess and Identify Learning NeedsTools for Upskilling the Whole TeamTools for Upskilling IndividualsLearning Traps to Help Your Team AvoidManaging StakeholdersWhy You Need to Manage Your StakeholdersIdentifying Your StakeholdersStakeholder Management TechniquesCommon Challenges in Navigating Technical LeadershipGetting Stakeholder Buy-In on Technical TopicsMeasuring Success in Technical LeadershipBalancing the Demands of Tech Leadership to Avoid BurnoutKey Takeaway
11. Beyond Tech Lead: Charting Your Career Path
Reflecting on Your Experience as a Tech LeadUnderstand What You Enjoy (and Don’t) About the RoleIdentify Your Strengths and Areas for Improvement as a LeaderPossible Career Paths After Tech LeadAdvancing to Engineering ManagerSpecializing as a Staff+ or ArchitectTransitioning to a Technical Program Manager RoleGetting into Consulting or Advisory RolesPlanning Your TransitionChoose Your Next Step with IntentionPrepare for the ShiftRemember: You’re Not Locked InKey TakeawayWrap-Up
Index
About the Author

Content preview from Leveling Up as a Tech Lead

About the Author

Anemari Fiser is a tech leadership trainer and coach who helps engineers grow into confident and effective tech leads. With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, she has held roles ranging from software engineer and consultant to tech lead and engineering leader before dedicating her career to developing others.

Over the past four years, as an independent professional, Anemari has coached more than 500 engineers and partnered with companies to train nearly 400 tech leads on building high-performing teams, improving communication, and leading with confidence.

She is the creator of O’Reilly’s Soft Skills for Tech Leads course and the Level Up as a Tech Lead newsletter, read by 7,000+ tech professionals worldwide. Anemari also shares practical leadership insights with a community of over 30,000 engineers on LinkedIn, where she writes about the real challenges of leading in tech.

Her practical, people-centered approach helps technical leaders navigate the challenges of leadership while keeping their authenticity—and their sanity—intact.

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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Soft Skills

Leveling Up as a Tech Lead

by Anemari Fiser

About the Author

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.