The single biggest difference is the shift from personal output to team outcome — from being a maker to being a multiplier. A great Developer is measured by what they produce; a great Tech Lead is measured by what the team produces, even on days they write no code at all.
| Great Developer | Great Tech Lead |
|---|
| Optimizes their own throughput | Optimizes the whole team's throughput |
| Solves the hard problem | Makes sure the right problem gets solved |
| Owns their code | Owns the technical outcome and direction |
| Seeks the best technical solution | Seeks the best solution given people, time, and business context |
| Success = shipped feature | Success = team that consistently ships |
The best individual contributor is not automatically a good lead — and a newly promoted TL who keeps hoarding the hard work becomes the team's bottleneck while their people stagnate. The transition is a genuine change of job, not a reward for coding.
Understanding this difference is what makes the transition succeed. Lead with leverage, communication, and judgment — not just technical horsepower — and you multiply an entire team. Cling to being the best coder in the room, and you cap your impact at exactly what two hands can build.