Reply to: How do I become a team leader

[eek]

In that context then yes I would agree with that. The move in to some of the roles you mention is no small change either though.

Yep but any current development role could be shown to have an element of architecture, project management or Business Analysis within it. Heck I do all those roles some of the time just to ensure I delivery something usable on time....

[northernladuk]

I would have thought that was a bit of a difficult leap from development. The other roles are things you can hang off a development role to show you know the basics Service Management is probably too far away development to create plausible comments in a CV...

In that context then yes I would agree with that. The move in to some of the roles you mention is no small change either though.

[eek]

Or Service Management?

I would have thought that was a bit of a difficult leap from development. The other roles are things you can hang off a development role to show you know the basics Service Management is probably too far away development to create plausible comments in a CV...

[northernladuk]

As a contractor your none techie options are architect, analysis or project management.

Or Service Management?

[GlenW]

How do I become a team leader?

Know nowt and talk a lot.

[BolshieBastard]

I can never get my head around a contractor wanting to micro manage others or a team. Weird.

[sal]

As a contractor your none techie options are architect, analysis or project management.

+1, the odd contract advertised as a Team Lead is usually a senior technical position, not managerial. As like others have already pointed out Team Lead is a very broad definition and the actual responsibilities vary between the organizations.

Even if by a wild chance you manage to secure one contract as a non-tech TL, you are pigeonholing yourself in very, very tiny niche. And what about long term plans, do you plan to be TL for the rest of your life? Usually people who crave management roles want to go higher in the hierarchy and this is only possible as a perm.

So far the only couple of cases i have seen of a contractor in a management position were so the contractor can be used as a scapegoat during major structural changes.

P.S. Oh yeah, almost forgot. The answer to the original question is to go perm, a good option would be to see if you can transition to a perm role with a current ClintCo you like, many clients are happy to get an experienced contractor for Permie peanuts.

[eek]

As a contractor your none techie options are architect, analysis or project management.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Depends on what 'team lead' means, as already mentioned. I see loads of ads for team leads which really means (as i also happen to think the term should mean) a senior developer with enough technical expertise and experience to provide solid leadership (assuming they have the personality traits to go with it).

It's like a troop/platoon sergeant - he's the leader (more so than the troop officer) because he's normally the guy with the experience to allow him to be an effective leader. He's seem some tulip!, as they say in the Vietnam movies.

If you want line management responsibilities, then with everyone moving towards things like Scrum I think that's becoming more and more a task for a dev manager type who owns several teams - which sounds more like a permie move to me.

[northernladuk]

**** me. Just wrote a long detailed addition to this and my phone said I wasn't logged in and I lost it. Bugger. Can't be arsed to write it all again so the shortened version is... Has the op put any thought as to whether this new skill is going to get contracts? I don't see many gig's for team leaders and generic man management type roles hardly need specialised skills. Not only has he got do a bit of work to understand his career path better he needs to research how it will affect his ability to get gig's. Added to that he'll be back in the market as a newbie so hard to get that first contract.

[vwdan]

I think the title of TL can be generic and will mean different things in different organisations. Open to anyone else to out me right though.

Totally with you on this. Most TLs I see are really just 'Senior [whatever]' that are just a half step up from the team, but still 99% hands on.

[northernladuk]

Well it depends on the actual role but I've seen plenty of team leaders that do the same job as the rest but with just some added responsibilities. This don't always extend to working with people beyond the team and may not get you working in the organisation. Are you not talking about moving in to management? I think the title of TL can be generic and will mean different things in different organisations. Open to anyone else to out me right though.

[heyya99]

Erm.. I'd argue you won't necessarily get in to any of them being a team leader.

What do you mean?

You'll need a new set if skills.

As in taking a management course? I'm willing to train. I want to move away from technical work.

[northernladuk]

Erm.. I'd argue you won't necessarily get in to any of them being a team leader.

You'll need a new set if skills. Just being the best at your current role isn't the correct reason to move in to a TL role. You are better picking the guy that isn't so good at what he does currently to be the TL. Read up on the Peter Principle for an interesting perspective that is lost on most managers.

[meridian]

As well as a bit of hard graft, and a bit of luck.

Hold your hand up for anything that sticks out as "team lead" type stuff in your current team. Scrum lead, team mentor, administration of the plan, etc. You'll get practical experience as well as getting noticed in your team. That's the hard graft. If you get lucky, your current lead might move on for whatever reason and instead of looking for a new one they might ask you to double up in that role. More graft, but you'll then have the title to add. Next role, put yourself forward for team lead positions.