When people ask what I do as an engineering leader, I tell them I'm part air traffic controller and part sherpa. This simple comparison helps explain a complex job, and it shows the balance needed to lead well in today's fast-moving world.

Why We Need Both Roles

Technology and team needs change all the time. One day, you're planning the big picture. The next, you're helping someone fix a critical bug. Today's engineering leaders need to be good at both high-level planning and hands-on help, often at the same time.

By thinking about leadership through these two roles, I can switch between watching everything from above and helping on the ground. Each role helps the team in different ways at different times.

These two roles become especially important when:

• Working on Big Projects
  Large projects need both careful planning and detailed problem-solving. You need to see the big picture while also diving in to help when teams get stuck.

• Helping Team Members Grow
  Growth happens through planned career development and in-the-moment teaching. Leaders need to balance long-term plans with quick help when needed.

• Making Big Changes
  Whether trying new technologies or changing how teams work, change needs both careful planning and supportive guidance.

Time spent helping teams directly as an Air Traffic Controller helps make better big-picture decisions as a Sherpa, and the other way around. Knowing where you want to go helps show where hands-on help matters most.

The Power of Being Flexible

The best leaders adapt to what's needed. Sometimes, you need to be the Air Traffic Controller, watching all the moving pieces and making sure nothing crashes. Other times, you need to be the Sherpa, showing the path forward and helping the team through tough spots. The key is knowing which role helps your team most at any moment.

Being flexible means staying aware of many things at once. It starts with really listening to what the team needs - both what they say and what they don't say. You need regular ways to get feedback and understand how different people work best. When things change, you need to quickly see what's new, be open about changes, and help the team adapt while staying true to core values. Most importantly, it means helping others try new things by making it safe to experiment, giving them real responsibility (not just tasks), supporting people who step outside their comfort zone, and celebrating both successes and learning moments. This approach helps the team do well in both calm and busy times.

Good timing helps you decide when to step in with direct help and when to step back and let your team work things out. This balance helps build strength for both daily work and big projects.

The Air Traffic Controller Role

The Air Traffic Controller role is about watching many moving pieces while keeping a clear view of everything. Just like real air traffic controllers juggle planes, runway space, and weather, engineering leaders must:

• Watch Multiple Projects

  • Keep track of how projects depend on each other
  • Find resource problems before they happen
  • Create clear ways to handle disruptions

• Set Clear Priorities

  • Tell the difference between urgent and important
  • Balance what the business needs with what the team can do
  • Make tough decisions about what to delay
  • Be open about priorities

• See the Big Picture

  • Understand how systems depend on each other
  • Track progress toward goals
  • Find bottlenecks before they slow things down
  • Keep aligned with company goals

Success in this role needs quick, fact-based decisions and staying calm under pressure. Like an air traffic controller, you must keep everything moving smoothly, prevent crashes, and always have backup plans ready.

The Sherpa Role

The Sherpa role is about vision and support. Mountain Sherpas are known for their technical skills and ability to inspire climbers to do what seems impossible. As a Sherpa, you:

• Create and Share a Clear Vision

  • Help teams see past current problems to long-term goals
  • Connect daily work to meaningful results
  • Make abstract goals feel real and exciting

• Guide Teams Through Challenges

  • Show clear ways to solve complex problems
  • Break big tasks into manageable steps
  • Share what you've learned to help avoid problems
  • Celebrate small wins to keep momentum

• Help People Grow

  • Find and develop each person's strengths
  • Give specific, helpful feedback and recognition
  • Build confidence through structured challenges and support
  • Encourage trying new things and learning from mistakes

Sherpa leadership depends on belief—both yours and your team's. You understand both the technical and human parts that lead to success, and you know when to push harder versus when to pause and think. The goal is to build a stronger, more independent team ready for bigger challenges.

How the Roles Work Together

The real value comes when these roles work together. As an Air Traffic Controller, you keep projects running smoothly; as a Sherpa, you help your team grow and stay motivated. Each situation calls for the right role.

In practice:

• When Planning Projects

  • The Controller maps out timelines and resources
  • The Sherpa connects the plan to an exciting vision
  • Together, they create a realistic plan that helps both delivery and growth

• When Facing Technical Problems

  • The Controller keeps projects moving, working with stakeholders
  • The Sherpa offers guidance and uses problems as teaching moments
  • The combination keeps progress steady while helping people learn

• In Team Growth

  • The Controller spots skill gaps
  • The Sherpa helps people fill those gaps
  • This cycle of finding needs and building skills keeps improving the team

• During Problems

  • The Controller sets priorities and coordinates responses
  • The Sherpa keeps spirits high and helps learn from the problem
  • Working together, they fix the urgent issue while making the team stronger

You'll often use both roles at once. While managing a complex release (Controller), you might see a chance to help someone learn new skills (Sherpa). The more these roles support each other, the more efficient and growth-focused your team becomes.

Final Thoughts

Good engineering leadership means mastering both roles and knowing when to use each one. By choosing the right role - Air Traffic Controller or Sherpa - at the right time, you'll build a high-performing, adaptable team.

Check Your Leadership Style

• Which role feels more natural to you? Managing tasks or inspiring others?
• Which role feels harder, and what skills can you build to improve it?
• Are you using both roles in your daily work?

Next Steps

Getting better at these roles takes time. Here's how to start:

1. Pick which role you need to improve first.
2. Set clear, measurable goals for building that role's skills.
3. Ask teammates and peers how well you do in both roles.
4. Find mentors who are good at things you want to improve.
5. Think regularly about what works and adjust your approach as you learn.

By being thoughtful about when and how you use each role, you'll better help your team, your organization, and your own growth as a leader.