How To Develop Leadership Skills in Technical Managers
The technology sector is facing a leadership challenge. While it's filled with brilliant engineers and technical experts, many are promoted into management roles without the human skills needed to lead effectively. The transition from coder to manager is rarely smooth — and without support, even the most talented professionals can struggle.
From Brilliant Coders to Brilliant Managers, our latest eBook, explores this critical gap and offers actionable strategies for tech leadership development. Whether you're an L&D leader or a tech executive, this guide shows how to upskill engineering managers using methods that resonate with their mindset and learning style.
Why Human Skills Matter in Technology Leadership
Technical excellence alone isn’t enough. To lead teams, drive collaboration, and make strategic decisions, managers need to build human skills. The most common skill gaps in technology leadership include:
Motivating and developing teams — coaching, feedback, and performance conversations
Cross-functional communication — tailoring messages, resolving conflict, and advocating for their teams
Strategic thinking — balancing priorities and aligning with broader business goals
Emotional intelligence for engineering leaders — recognizing stress, adapting to others, and building trust
Propel your
leaders to their
potential todaySchedule time to discuss your organization's development goals with one of our experts.
“Abilitie doesn’t have a ‘one-size fits all’ offering. Their ability (pun intended) to adapt to our needs in such a short amount of time highlights the flexible nature of their product design and construct. As a client, that’s a highly valuable attribute of their offering.”
These gaps aren’t personal failings — they’re predictable challenges that arise when technical professionals are asked to lead people. Left unaddressed, they can lead to burnout, disengagement, and stalled innovation.
Four Methods to Develop Leadership Skills in Tech Managers
Drawing on our experience developing over 100,000 leaders across industries — including Dell and WP Engine — we’ve identified four high-impact methods for tech leadership development:
1. Simulation-Based Leadership Training
Simulations offer experiential learning in a safe, realistic environment. Engineering managers can practice navigating tough conversations, making strategic decisions, and managing team dynamics — all without real-world consequences. Top tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta are already using simulation-based leadership training to accelerate growth.
2. AI Roleplay for Leadership Development
AI roleplay allows managers to engage in realistic, scalable practice conversations with intelligent feedback. Whether it’s giving difficult feedback or discussing career development, AI roleplay offers repeatable, personalized learning that appeals to the engineering mindset.
3. Coaching & Mentoring
Coaching helps managers reflect, recalibrate, and shift from an individual contributor mindset to a leadership mindset. With AI-powered coaching platforms now available, organizations can scale support across all levels — while mentoring remains a powerful, human-centered way to share wisdom and accelerate growth.
4. Personality Assessments
Psychometric tools help personalize the leadership journey. By understanding how they show up under pressure, make decisions, and relate to others, tech managers can build targeted development plans that align with their strengths and stretch areas.
If you're looking to build human skills in technology leadership and empower your engineering managers to thrive, this eBook is your roadmap.
Download the full guideto explore each method in depth and discover how to develop leadership skills that keep your high performing talent at the top of their game as they advance their careers.
