Leverage: A Key to Amplifying Your Impact
No matter if you're a software engineer, a hardware specialist, a product visionary, or a data scientist, as you accumulate years of experience, one concept becomes increasingly vital to your career: leverage. It's not just about working harder but using your expertise to create a greater impact—for yourself, your team, and your company.
As you grow, it’s important to understand that leadership isn’t limited to a job title or managing a team. Leadership comes in many forms: technical leadership, thought leadership, managerial leadership, and more. True leadership is about amplifying the impact of others through your own skills and insights. A great manager, for example, doesn’t just direct people. They remove obstacles, provide guidance, and create opportunities for growth. They empower their teams to do their best work.
Technical Leadership in Action
A powerful example of leadership outside traditional management is Amazon's principal engineer role. These engineers are not just skilled coders or system architects; they mentor entire organizations, guiding them toward high-quality outcomes.
I remember when I was working on the performance team at Amazon and thought I had an ingenious idea: using machine learning models to predict a customer’s next click. Excited, I pitched the idea and requested a dedicated team to develop a proof of concept (POC). After a sprint spent crafting the design and defining metrics, we presented it for review. The principal engineer’s feedback wasn’t what I expected. While they supported the core idea, they rigorously questioned aspects we hadn’t fully considered—like experiment design, latency, and automation. It felt like a setback at the time, but that feedback refined our approach. Eventually, the project was a massive success, even being featured on Amazon’s homepage. That experience taught me that great leadership isn’t about pushing your ideas through—it’s about refining them, often through the insights of others, to achieve a better result.
Becoming a Leader: What’s the Path?
If you aspire to formal leadership, the journey begins with self-reflection. What excites you? Do you love managing people, or do you prefer to focus on technical challenges? If you’re unsure, don’t rush. Talk to others—both inside and outside your company—to get a sense of where your passions lie.
Once you have some clarity, set a timeline. Transitioning from an engineer to a director takes time, but becoming a technical lead or a manager might be a more immediate step. Identify the logical next move in your career.
Next, speak with your manager. A good leader will want to support your growth. Don’t be afraid to share your ambitions. However, don’t simply ask for a promotion—come prepared with a plan and be open to feedback. Collaborate with your manager to align your career development with the company’s needs and your own goals.
Patience and Preparation
Finally, leadership is about readiness and patience. Hard work increases the chances of success, but sometimes timing is everything. New projects, sudden openings, or unexpected opportunities can accelerate your path—but only if you’re prepared and visible when the moment comes.
Remember, leadership is about influence and impact, not just titles. Your ability to leverage your experience, collaborate with others, and consistently deliver results will carve your path forward. Stay patient, stay prepared, and success will follow.