Software developers tend to be smart, ambitious, and highly driven. They are good at solving problems and making decisions. All of these are traits that could indicate strong leadership potential. But you can’t promote them all at the same time. So how do you know which developers may be ready for a management track? Here are some things to look for in top candidates for a software development team leader role.

Customer Focus

The customer experience is the lifeblood of software development. A top contender to lead your development team understands the importance of putting the customer first and creating a value-driven product rather than one defined by its processes.

Big Picture Clarity

Software developers spend most of their time in the weeds, zoomed way in on one specific task at a time. But a development team leader needs to be able switch focus, frequently zooming out to take a look at the big picture. Top candidates understand how every piece of the puzzle works together to create a cohesive experience, and how to identify parts that may need tweaking.

Desire to Learn

Technology evolves at lightning speed, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. What was once industry-standard quickly becomes obsolete. Yet companies that constantly chase the newest and shiniest technologies often fail. Development team leaders need to have an innate desire to learn about emerging trends, as well as the ability to quickly develop a deeper understanding and make decisions on whether to implement something new.

Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills

Software developers aren’t always known for their soft skills, but a team leader needs them to be strong. Emotional intelligence helps them understand what each stakeholder wants, while advanced communication skills help them get everyone moving in the same direction. A great development team leader knows how to code switch, speaking in technical terms to the team and in plain language to stakeholders who aren’t engineers.

Leading by Example

Great leaders never ask team members to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. Look for someone who is comfortable with delegating tasks, but is always willing to jump in and help out. Of course, this also means that the team leader should have deep technical expertise in all aspects of software development.

Promoting from within is an excellent way to build a strong, loyal team. But you need to make sure that whichever engineers you promote have the unique skills needed to successfully run a technical team.

Build A Forward-Thinking Engineering Team With PEAK

If you are looking for talented engineering professionals who can help your organization achieve its goals, contact the experts at PEAK Technical Staffing today to learn how we can help you access cutting-edge talent.