Introduction
My name is Ingmar, I am Senior Developer at Kitameraki and I am leading web, mobile and app developments for our customers and internal products development. I started my career 2 years ago as a Junior development and now in charge of solution architecture and lead a team of developers. Starting your transition from a junior to a senior developer position might sound like a daunting task. And to tell you the truth, it is. But it’s a journey that many has experienced before you, including me.
Here are some of the many points that are important to your new role, which I still try to improve day by day:
Taking ownership of projects,
understanding your role,
building your team,
establishing communications, and
setting and managing project goals
In this article I will share my experiences and lessons that I have learned from my journey.
Taking ownership, what does it entrail?
It may sound simple, but taking ownership of your projects carries a lot of weight. One thing for sure, is that it is the opposite of “just working”. By “working” you complete your task, debug, deploy, etc. But taking ownership means that you treat the project as your possession, once you do that you will always seek for improvements, not only for the project but also for yourself, so that you can better develop and manage your projects. And to take ownership is not a one-man task, it is equally important exercise to make your team take ownership as well.
Making your team understand the purpose of their role and the purpose of their task will go a long way on improving the quality of their work. These are some exercises that can help your team to have ownership of their projects:
Explain the reasons don’t dictate the action: Having your team understand the impact of their role and their action will give them a sense of purpose, eventually motivate them to do better.
The system of trust: Rather than micromanaging, challenge and entrust your team with responsibilities. When people are trusted they tend to be more creative.
Understand your role!
As a senior developer, on top of developing you are also responsible for managing projects, manage a good line of communication between the team, delegate tasks, and prioritize workload to mention a few. These are skills that you will need but cannot learn through online courses or documentation, you will stumble and you will make mistakes. But what is important is to learn from your every mistake.
Always maintain a good line of communication, both horizontally and vertically, to your peers, juniors, and seniors. Specifications, expectations, critics, and compliments are some of things that you need to communicate clearly to your teams. And remember, communication is two-player game, to give critic means that you have to be ready to accept critic as well.
One last thing to note is to always nurture your team, human capital is the main motor that drives an IT company. Lead them to a path for success and help them to avoid your failings.
Building a Strong Project Team
A strong team must be built from the ground up. Selecting the right team members is crucial to building a team that can work well together and achieve project goals. When selecting team members, consider their technical expertise and their ability to work collaboratively. Fostering collaboration is key to creating a strong project team. It is also essential to establish clear lines of communication and hold regular check-ins to ensure that the project is moving in the right direction.
One thing that is as important to build other that the team’s capability is camaraderie between the members. Each and every member of your team is a cog that works together to build a quality product. It is important to remind your team from time to time that they don’t work alone. Camaraderie can facilitate transfer of knowledge, improve communication, and build sense of ownership.
Establishing Communications
Establishing clear and effective communication is vital to project success because it ensures that everyone involved in the project is aware of their roles and responsibilities, understands project goals and objectives, and has access to the information they need to perform their tasks effectively. Effective communication also helps to identify and resolve issues quickly, minimizes misunderstandings, and builds trust among team members. When communication channels are not established or are ineffective, it can lead to delays, mistakes, and a breakdown in team morale, which can ultimately impact the success of the project.
Setting and Managing Project Goals
To achieve project success, you must set clear, achievable project goals. Two things that I have learned is to not overestimate yourself and underestimate your work, before planning out a goal make sure you understand fully the scope of work and the capability of your team.
Prioritizing tasks is also essential to ensuring that your project stays on track. Creating a timeline for the project is crucial for meeting deadlines and achieving project goals. There are many tools that can assist you with prioritizing and making timeline for projects, but tools are just tools. You will have to be consistent in order to fully utilize it.
And lastly be flexible, goals might change, timeline might shift, but you need to always be ready. Regularly assess your team’s progress and make adjustments as needed to keep the project on track. Always be ready to pivot when necessary to keep the project moving forward.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transitioning from a junior to a senior developer position is a challenging but rewarding journey. Taking ownership of projects, understanding your role, building a strong project team, and setting and managing project goals are crucial to driving project success. As a senior developer, it is important to own the project and it is as important to make your team take ownership as well. Clear communication, trust, and fostering collaboration are key to creating a strong project team. Setting achievable project goals, prioritizing tasks, and being flexible are essential to meeting deadlines and achieving project goals. As you learn and grow in your role, remember to lead your team to a path for success and help them avoid your failings.
I hope this article can help you set out your steps as a senior developer.
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