My Journey Through Leadership, Solutions Architecture, and Productivity Hacks

Introduction

When I started as a software engineer, I never imagined where the journey would take me. Over time, I’ve gone from writing lines of code to leading teams, architecting solutions, and managing people. Each step has been a learning experience, filled with wins, challenges, and a lot of growth.

This post is me reflecting on everything I’ve learned so far—what it’s like to be a tech lead, a solutions architect, and how I’ve managed to stay (mostly) sane through it all. Whether you’re considering a leadership role or just curious about what these roles look like, I hope this helps.

Moving Into Leadership

What It Means to Lead

Leadership in tech is nothing like I expected. It’s not about being the best coder or knowing every framework. It’s about enabling others to succeed. When I became a tech lead, I realized my value wasn’t in how much I could code—it was in guiding my team to deliver.

What I’ve Learned as a Lead

Being a tech lead isn’t glamorous. It’s a lot of coordination, decision-making, and building trust. One thing that saved me early on was taking notes—lots of them. With so much going on, keeping track of everything was the only way to stay sane.

Delegation was another game-changer. I used to think I had to do it all myself, but letting go and trusting others is crucial. Delegating isn’t just about lightening your workload—it’s about giving your team the chance to grow.

Leading with empathy was also a big lesson. Understanding what my team members were going through made a huge difference. But empathy doesn’t mean letting everything slide. Balancing compassion with accountability is key.

The Leadership Reality

Here’s what I’ve learned about being a tech lead:

It can be lonely. You’re the person everyone looks to for answers.
You have to solve problems, not complain. People rely on you to keep things moving.
Communication is everything. I’ve learned to repeat myself to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

What to Expect as a Tech Lead

When you step into a tech lead role, here’s what you’re signing up for:

A mix of tasks: You’ll juggle technical work, meetings, and team management.
Heavy expectations: People will come to you for answers, direction, and support.
Details matter: Overlooking small things can cause big issues.
Awareness is key: Know your strengths, weaknesses, and the dynamics of your team.
Everyone will need you: From technical questions to morale boosts, you’re the go-to person.
Prioritize and delegate: Focus on what’s meaningful and trust your team to handle the rest.
Work doesn’t stop at 5 PM: Sometimes, the real work—strategizing and troubleshooting—happens after hours.
Stay high-level: Keep a bird’s-eye view of the team’s goals while ensuring the details align with the bigger picture.
Communicate clearly: Over-communicate if you have to. Clarity is everything.

The Challenges of Leadership

Losing Touch with Tech:
As a tech lead, you’ll spend more time in meetings than coding. It’s a natural shift, but it can feel frustrating.

Meeting Overload:
Your calendar will fill up quickly. Block time for deep work to avoid burnout.

Feeling Powerless:
Sometimes, decisions are made above you, and it’s tough to accept. Focus on what you can control and advocate for your team when you can.

Is Leadership for You?
Not everyone wants the responsibility of managing others, and that’s okay. Some people thrive as individual contributors, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Life as a Solutions Architect

Types of Solutions Architects

In my time as a solutions architect, I’ve worn many hats. Depending on the company, the role can mean different things:

Enterprise Architect: Aligning tech with business goals.
Pre-Sales Architect: Designing solutions to win deals.
Post-Sales Architect: Delivering what was promised.
Internal Architect: Supporting internal teams and projects.

At the core, it’s all about solving problems.

A Day in My Life

My role is a mix of leadership and hands-on work. A typical day looks something like this:

Morning: Emails, PR reviews, and ticket grooming.
Midday: Team syncs and meetings.
Afternoon: Debugging, troubleshooting, and unplanned tasks.

Some days are packed with meetings, and I barely get to code. But the moments when a solution clicks or when I see my team growing? Those make it all worth it.

Productivity Hacks

Handling Interruptions:
Being pinged all day is exhausting. Here’s what works for me:

I schedule a “help hour” for quick questions.
Group more complex issues into 15–30-minute sessions.
Encourage team members to switch tasks unless they’re completely blocked.

Maker vs. Manager Mode:
Balancing deep work and meetings is tough. I structure my day into two modes:

Maker Mode: Focused 90-minute blocks for uninterrupted work.
Manager Mode: Short 15-minute intervals for meetings and quick tasks.

Planning and Prioritizing:
I start every day by listing priorities and identifying tasks I can delegate. It keeps me focused on what really matters.

Avoiding Meeting Burnout:
I block time on my calendar for deep work and make sure meetings have clear agendas and buffers between them.

Building a Strong Team

Empathy and Accountability:
Your team needs to feel supported, but they also need clear expectations. Regular check-ins help keep everyone aligned.

Course Correction:
When your team struggles, it’s on you. Frequent feedback and adjustments are key to staying on track.

Fostering Growth:
Delegating isn’t just about getting work off your plate. It’s about giving your team opportunities to learn and grow.

Ceremonies That Work

We’ve implemented a few rituals to keep things running smoothly:

Daily Standups: 15 minutes to discuss progress, blockers, and priorities.
Help Hour: A dedicated time for questions and pairing sessions.
Happy Hours: Weekly sessions for bonding, brainstorming, and sometimes just chatting.

Sample Happy Hour Agenda:

Check-in (5 min): Quick hellos and personal updates.
Wins (10 min): Share recent successes.
Help Corner (15 min): Open support for troubleshooting or brainstorming.
Random Topic (10 min): Lighthearted discussions.

Final Thoughts

This journey from engineer to leader has been a rollercoaster. There are tough days when everything feels overwhelming. But there are also incredible moments when your team succeeds, and you know you had a hand in it.

If you’re thinking about leadership or curious about what it’s like to be a solutions architect, let’s connect! I’d love to hear your story and share more insights.

What challenges have you faced? What lessons have you learned? Let’s talk.