“You lose one great developer… and gain one terrible manager.”
Have you ever heard that phrase?
When we were developers, we took pride in our skills. Sometimes we even criticized our managers when they didn’t handle things the way we thought they should.
But one day, as we grow and step into a leadership role, we suddenly realize something uncomfortable:
That “Terrible manager” we used to complain about… might now be us.
It’s completely normal to be a bad leader at the beginning. But if you refuse to acknowledge it and improve—that’s when you truly become one.
Understanding the Stages of Leadership
Leadership comes in levels. The first step is to honestly assess where you stand.
Here’s a brief summary of John C. Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership for self-reflection:
Level 1: Position – People follow you because of your title.
This is the riskiest level. If you rely only on authority without demonstrating capability, your team will eventually disengage.
Level 2: Permission – People follow you because of relationships.
Trust begins to form. Your team listens not just because you’re the boss, but because they feel respected and valued.
Level 3: Production – People follow you because of results.
You prove your competence. You solve problems, deliver outcomes, and create visible impact for the team.
Level 4: People Development – People follow you because of growth.
You develop others. You mentor your team members until they can perform at your level—or even surpass it. This is where sustainable strength is built.
Level 5: Pinnacle – People follow you because of who you are and what you’ve built.
You become the kind of leader others genuinely want to work with—even beyond projects or roles.
How to Become a Better Leader Every Day
If you want your team to improve, start with yourself.
Say (What you communicate)
Are you simply giving orders, or are you explaining the purpose behind the work?
Act (What you do)
If you expect punctuality but consistently arrive late to meetings, your team learns that punctuality doesn’t really matter.
Prioritize (What you focus on)
If you constantly choose quick fixes over quality, your team will adopt the same mindset.
Measure (What you track)
What do you ask about most often?
If you only ask, “How many days will it take?” or “How many people do we need?”, your team will focus on speed and output volume—often at the cost of quality. The result? More bugs, shallow understanding, and little learning.
Leveling Up as a Leader
You can use the 5 Levels of Leadership as a roadmap for growing into a stronger team lead:
Levels 1–2: Build trust through action.
Stop relying solely on authority. Start building relationships by listening—and aligning your words with your actions.
Levels 3–4: Demonstrate capability and develop people.
Lead by example. Choose work that creates real impact. Measure success by your team’s growth—not just lines of code.
Level 5: Become a sustainable role model.
When your words and actions consistently align, people follow you not because they have to—but because they truly believe in you.
Leading a team as a developer is like learning a new framework.
At first, it feels awkward and frustrating. But once you adjust your mindset, things gradually fall into place.
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Reduce “Doing everything yourself.” Increase support.
Accept that you can’t handle everything alone. Your role is to create an environment where your team can succeed independently. -
Listen more than you speak.
Understanding your team’s challenges is just as important as understanding system architecture. -
Embrace mistakes.
No one becomes a great leader on day one. We grow through feedback and continuous adjustment.
Transitioning from coding to coaching is more exhausting and pressure-filled than before. But it’s a crucial step that expands your perspective.
And the pride you feel when your team grows—that’s something no beautifully written line of code can ever replace.
See you next time.
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