The 3 Lessons I Learned Going From WordPress Developer to Tech Lead

Transitioning from a WordPress developer role to a technical lead has been a process of learning, facing challenges, and growing professionally and personally.

In this article, I share my experiences, exploring the challenges I’ve faced, the key skills I’ve had to develop, the strategies that have worked, and the lessons that can help others navigate or facilitate this change.

Lesson 1: Work on Your Planning Skills

One of my biggest challenges was dealing with tasks that got blocked due to a lack of planning or unclear objectives. I quickly learned that in such situations, it’s crucial to pause and prioritize planning, especially for critical tasks.

I also prioritize my team above all else to avoid delays and respect their time and efforts.

This approach keeps the workflow smooth and improves trust and collaboration between team members.

Lesson 2: Be Approachable and Open to Approaching Others How They Feel the Most Comfortable

Experience has taught me that a good technical lead needs to be approachable and open to dialogue.

From the beginning, I aimed to create a comfortable environment for my team. My go-to approach is breaking the ice with informal conversations for a few minutes before tackling work-related topics.

However, I’ve also found that adapting to each individual is important. To approach each team member effectively, I observe how and where they feel most comfortable communicating, whether through chats, quick Slack huddles, or task-specific updates in Asana.

Based on my experience with each member, I tailor my approach to each whenever possible.

Although I haven’t yet encountered a situation where a team member hesitated to share issues, if that were to happen, my approach would be to directly reach out and reassure them that they can always rely on me for support.

Lesson 3: Learn to Balance Technical Development With Project Management

Another significant challenge during my transition has been balancing the team’s planning and achieving sprint goals while meeting client deadlines.

I’ve found that tracking progress and providing daily updates to stay aligned with client expectations is generally a good strategy. To manage these efforts, we rely on Asana, where our PM/PO strategically assigns tasks.

3 Skills I Think Are Essential for WordPress Technical Leadership

In my experience, some of the most essential skills for transitioning into a technical leadership role include:

• Strategic planning. Understand where the team is, where it needs to go, and the steps that can take us there.
• Conflict resolution. Address problems empathetically.
• Effective communication. Communicating effectively and in a way your team members appreciate ensures alignment and fosters an environment where everyone feels heard.

Of these, strategic planning has been the most challenging for me. I’m still working on developing a more comprehensive view of the project’s progress.

I learn from my mistakes and actively seek advice from more experienced colleagues to improve.

Being a Tech Lead Is a Constant Learning Experience

This role remains a constant learning experience.

Looking back, I would dedicate more time to engaging with the team and gaining a deeper understanding of the client’s business. This would have significantly improved my ability to plan and align with project expectations.

If you lead a WordPress development agency or you manage multiple development teams with multiple tech leads, I recommend considering the following:

• Allow sufficient time for the new leader to adapt.
• Encourage solid planning from the start.
• Involve mentors or experienced leaders to guide new leaders through the process.

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