Leadership isn’t heavy because of authority.
It’s heavy because of responsibility.

In this episode, I unpack the quieter side of leadership that rarely gets talked about, the invisible pressure, constant context switching, and unclear systems that slowly wear leaders down over time.

This isn’t an episode about leadership theory or motivational advice. It’s about what actually breaks teams when intentions are good, but systems aren’t.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or constantly pulled into everything, this episode will help you understand why.

The Tech Lead Operating System referenced in this episode is linked below.
It’s a practical framework for reducing friction, reclaiming focus, and building leverage in your role.

This conversation needed time. Not to say more, but to say it clearly.

The Tech Lead Operating System:
👉 https://mullinsnick8.gumroad.com/l/swpizi

Respect isn’t earned, it’s maintained. Nick unpacks why leaders start with respect, how they lose it without realizing it, and why demanding respect is the fastest way to destroy it. Straight talk for leaders who want trust, not compliance.

Most people think the job of a tech lead is to write the hardest code, review every pull request, and jump in whenever things are on fire.

That thinking is exactly what burns teams out.

In this episode of Lead Don’t Ctrl, Nick Mullins breaks down the real job of a tech lead, and why so many smart engineers struggle when they first step into leadership.

We cover:

• Why tech leads don’t need to be the best developer on the team

• How “being the hero” quietly turns you into a bottleneck

• Why reviewing everything slows teams down instead of protecting quality

• The invisible work tech leads do to manage priorities and reduce noise

• How great tech leads create leverage, clarity, and trust

• Why your team should be able to operate without you for days at a time

If you’re a tech lead, senior engineer, or someone who accidentally became “the responsible one,” this episode will help you rethink what leadership actually means, and how to do it without controlling everything.

Lead. Don’t control.