Role of a Team Lead

When I first started programming, my primary objective was straightforward: just complete the tasks assigned to me. However, as we are well aware, programming is not a a one-person job - it necessitates a team effort, particularly when developing large-scale applications. And therein lies the challenge.

In theory, everyone comprehends the end goal, but in practice, the situation can become little chaotic. Team members might diverge, heading in different directions, and it can be difficult to keep everyone on track. Moreover, for newcomers joining the project, understanding the existing codebase can prove to be quite a daunting task.

That’s where the leader comes in. It’s their job to make sure that at the end of the day, the entire codebase looks like it was written by a single person. In the tech world, we call it “consistent code.” So as a leader, it’s our responsibility to train and guide the team towards writing consistent code and reaching the ultimate goal. But how do we do that?

Here are a few tips:

• Roll up your sleeves and code alongside your team.
• A good leader should spend at least 30% of their time coding with the team.
• Try pair programming with your team. It can be a great way to share knowledge and improve code quality.
• Motivate your team with sessions on better coding practices. And most importantly, earn their trust.
• Don’t forget to value the diversity of your team. Different perspectives and skill sets can be a huge asset. Just make sure to encourage team members to communicate and integrate their thought processes.
• As long as we have trust in each other, we can accomplish anything! Just remember that no one is outstanding at everything - use each team member’s unique skills to your advantage.