When I first imagined growing into more senior roles, I thought it meant becoming better at engineering: writing cleaner code, mastering data structures and algorithms, learning more design patterns, and architecting complex systems. I believed that technical excellence was the key to advancement.
But as I progressed, I realized that coding is the easy part. The real challenge lies in managing upwards, navigating organizational dynamics, and influencing others without formal authority. Seniority is less about technical capabilities and more about communication, alignment, and enabling others to succeed.
Key Points
- Technical skills are necessary, but not sufficient, for senior roles.
- The hardest problems are often people problems: alignment, influence, and communication.
- Success at higher levels requires managing expectations, building trust, and leading without authority.
Reflection
How can you develop the skills to influence and lead, beyond just improving your technical abilities?