Transitioning to tech leadership and the importance of soft skills for software engineers
Apr 03, 2025•52 min
Episode description
Coding Chats Episode 23 - Anemari Fiser and John Crickett explore the software engineering mindset, the importance of asking questions, the differences between consultancy and product companies, the significance of soft skills in tech, and the challenges of making work visible.
- The Engineering Mindset: An Overview
- The Importance of Asking Questions
- Consultancy vs. Product Companies: A Comparative Insight
- The Transition from Technical to Non-Technical Roles
- Building High-Performing Teams: The Role of Leadership
- Navigating the Challenges of Leadership Transitions
- Visibility and Impact in Work
- Navigating Career Paths: IC vs Management
- The Importance of Soft Skills
- Coaching vs Mentoring: Finding Your Path
- Developing Soft Skills: Starting Points and Strategies
- Courage to Change: Adapting to New Environments
Anemari's Links:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anemari-fiser/
- O’Reilly book - Leveling Up as a Tech Lead (Early release version) - https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/leveling-up-as/9781098177508
- O’Reilly online course - Soft Skills for Tech Leads - https://learning.oreilly.com/course/soft-skills-for/0642572043995/
- Level up as a Tech Lead Newsletter - https://anemarifiser.substack.com
- Coaching 1-1 - https://anemarifiser.substack.com/p/1-1-coaching
John's Links:
- John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
- John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
- John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
- John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
- Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
- Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.