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For over 5 years, I've watched teams work on software projects. Time and again: a project only succeeds when there's a good team leader. But what does it actually mean to be a *good* one?

Michael Ballé, a lean sensei, has a clear take: being a leader is not being the boss. The leader — the one people turn to when things get crazy — is built and granted. It comes down to knowing 3 things well:

1. What the deliverables are and when they're needed. Obvious? Maybe. But can you easily name yours right now? 2. The right competencies: leadership is gained by showing, not telling.

3. How to handle the unexpected: you lose credibility when you freeze. It's not about knowing everything — it's about knowing the right patterns and frameworks to help your team take the first steps.