TPM Career: Essential Leadership Skills to Impress Your Manager

Have you wanted to transition into a leadership role and been told that you need to be “seen as a leader” by your peers and stakeholders to be considered ready? Have you been given feedback that you need to step up, take the lead, and influence outcomes? Do you want to ace the role but need to figure out what the expectation is or how leadership skills look like in action?

See also: Single Threaded Leader at Amazon

While it may feel like a chicken-and-egg problem that you can only get people to see your leadership skills if you are given a title or a plum leadership role, it can be easy to overlook the multiple smaller opportunities. These could be leading a small project outside your area, mentoring a junior colleague, or taking initiative in a meeting. It’s not a one-shot and done; you make it part of your brand. Many of us self-limit, waiting for ‘permission’ to lead, fearing failure, or thinking leadership only happens on a grand scale. But guess what? Leadership can start small and doesn’t need to be flashy.

Becoming a leader isn’t always about titles or promotions—it’s about mindset. A leadership mindset is about taking initiative, being proactive, and influencing others towards a common goal. Leaders see opportunities where others see challenges and are resilient in the face of failure. Communicate your goals, seek mentors, and remember—you’re not alone in this journey. You deserve a seat at the table.

The Leadership Mindset for Senior TPMs

You don’t need permission to lead. Whether you’re running a critical path program or facilitating a postmortem, leadership is demonstrated in how you:

• Navigate ambiguity
• Influence without authority
• Drive clarity across engineering, product, and business stakeholders

Many TPMs hesitate to step up until they’ve been formally asked. But some of the strongest signals of leadership are built in the in-between moments—resolving misalignment, mentoring peers, or creating a plan before someone asks for it.

7 Essential Leadership Skills

Here’s how senior TPMs can actively showcase leadership today:

These aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re the building blocks of visibility. When you apply these consistently, your influence grows. And so does your manager’s trust in your leadership potential.

Practical Tips to Start Today

• Stop waiting to be asked. If you see a gap, fill it. Take the initiative. Be proactive; when you know the next step, do it without waiting to be asked.
• Speak up with clarity. Don’t just voice concerns, propose solutions.
• Push Through Imposter Syndrome: You don’t need to be perfect or know everything. Embrace your strengths and act with confidence—even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
• Lead through impact. Track how your work contributes to business outcomes, not just delivery.
• Ask for feedback. Show that you’re coachable and growth-minded.

Leadership isn’t about being loud or flashy. Be consistent, trusted, and outcome-focused, regardless of title.

If you’re aiming for that next level, create your own runway by demonstrating leadership where you are

Take a moment today and commit to applying some of these leadership actions yourself to elevate your leadership game.

Related read: Embracing and Leading Change As A TPM