Being a tech lead or engineering manager isn't just about knowing how to code. Sure, that's a big part of the job, but it's not everything. When you're responsible for guiding a team, managing projects, and aligning technical decisions with business goals, you need a different skill set — one that goes beyond just technical know-how.

The best tech leaders are those who are constantly learning and evolving. They're not just great at writing code; they're good at building teams, managing conflicts, giving feedback, and making data-driven decisions. And that's where the right courses come in. Let me walk you through 8 courses that have helped me (and other tech leaders I've worked with) become more effective leaders, better communicators, and ultimately, better managers.

One of the first areas that stood out to me when transitioning into leadership was the need for emotional intelligence. I realized that managing a team isn't just about assigning tasks or reviewing code — it's about understanding the human side of things. People have their own challenges, motivations, and concerns, and if you're not tuned into those, you'll miss out on creating a healthy, productive work environment. That's why a course on emotional intelligence can make all the difference. I took the Emotional Intelligence for Leadership course on Udemy and found it incredibly useful in learning how to manage emotions — both my own and those of my team.

Then there's project management. You can be the most talented coder in the world, but if you don't know how to manage your team's workload, priorities, and timelines, things can quickly fall apart. When I first started leading teams, I realized I needed to understand Agile methodologies more deeply. I enrolled in Agile Project Management on Coursera, and it opened my eyes to more efficient ways of working with teams. It's one thing to understand the theory behind Agile; it's another to put it into practice and really drive results. That course gave me the tools to do that.

One of the big eye-openers for me was learning about DevOps and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD). These aren't just buzzwords — they're critical practices that make the difference between teams that ship fast and teams that are constantly bogged down by deployment issues. I highly recommend LinkedIn Learning for their DevOps Foundations course. It's a game-changer in understanding how to streamline the development process and get features into the hands of users faster.

But being a tech lead isn't just about tech — it's also about guiding your team in the right direction, making strategic decisions, and building a solid architectural foundation. I'll admit, early in my management career, I underestimated the importance of good architecture. I thought, "We'll figure it out as we go." Big mistake. You need to know how to make smart technical decisions that won't bite you later. The Software Architecture: Patterns and Techniques course on Pluralsight was a life-saver for me. It showed me how to design systems that scale and evolve without constantly breaking.

And let's not forget the importance of giving feedback. As a tech lead, one of the hardest things to do is give constructive feedback. No one enjoys difficult conversations, but if you avoid them, problems fester. I remember stumbling through my first 1-on-1s, not really knowing how to structure them or give feedback that was both honest and helpful. A coaching-focused course like Managing as a Coach on LinkedIn Learning can really help here. It's all about learning how to guide your team in a way that helps them grow, without coming off as too harsh or, worse, too vague.

One thing I didn't expect to deal with as much was conflict. But it happens, especially in high-pressure environments. Teams don't always see eye to eye, and it's up to the manager to resolve disputes before they hurt productivity. I'll be honest, I wasn't great at this in the beginning. I hated confrontation. But after taking the Conflict Resolution Skills course on Udemy, I learned practical ways to address issues head-on without making things worse. It's not about avoiding conflict; it's about managing it in a way that keeps the team moving forward.

Another critical skill is data-driven decision making. There's so much data at our fingertips, but if you don't know how to use it, you're missing out on major insights. For tech leads, being able to analyze data and make decisions based on it is a must. I found the Data-Driven Decision Making for Managers course on Coursera to be incredibly useful. It showed me how to apply data analysis to real-world business decisions, helping me prioritize tasks and make smarter choices.

Finally, one thing that I've become more passionate about over the years is diversity and inclusion in tech. Building diverse teams isn't just good for optics — it's essential for innovation. Teams that bring together different perspectives perform better, hands down. If your tech leads and engineering managers aren't thinking about how to create inclusive environments, they're missing out on a major opportunity to foster creativity and collaboration. The Diversity and Inclusion in Tech course on Udemy is a great place to start.

These are just a few of the courses that have helped me — and countless other tech leaders — build stronger, more effective teams. But here's the thing: you don't have to figure it all out on your own. At CTO Freelance, we offer tailored coaching and development services for tech leads and engineering managers. Whether it's technical leadership, team management, or aligning tech with business strategy, we're here to help your team reach its full potential. The right guidance can make all the difference, so why not get started today?