Leading a team is tough, especially when you don't have the authority of a manager. In this article, Marc GG breaks leadership down into three types of power: Expertise Power (gaining influence through knowledge), Relational Power (leveraging relationships to get things done), and Role Power (authority that comes from a managerial position). While managers are the only ones who can rely on Role Power, overusing it can be a sign of ineffective leadership. Instead, the best leaders, both technical and managerial, use a mix of expertise and relationships to inspire action and guide their teams towards success. As Marc GG puts it, "having to frequently rely on authority in the context of a tech company is a kind of failure."

Key Points:

• Three Types of Power in Leadership:

  • Expertise Power: Influence through deep knowledge and skills.
  • Relational Power: Influence through strong relationships and trust.
  • Role Power: Influence from a formal position of authority.

• Technical leaders (like senior engineers and tech leads) often rely on Expertise Power.

• Managers lean more on Relational Power, but they have the option to use Role Power when necessary.

• Overusing Role Power can lead to poor leadership—managers should focus on coaching, providing context, and building buy-in instead of giving direct orders.

• In a tech environment, successful leaders know when to switch between different types of power to remain effective.

This breakdown from Marc GG gives a fresh perspective on leadership, especially for new tech leads and managers learning to navigate influence beyond their job title. If you want to lead effectively, don’t just rely on authority—build knowledge and relationships to get results. 🚀
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