[dfsegoat]

FWIW to expand: I am that person in my company. My title is "Technical Lead" and my job as I eventually discovered is just to be "chief enabler" for the team of engineers under me, and a "crap umbrella" - to keep crap from coming down on my team directly.

My company originally wanted me to micromanage and direct everything, but I've found that real leadership is when you can give smart engineers autonomy and entrust them to build and execute a plan. I am there when they need me and can jump in as needed if they get in over their heads.

[dansj]

Well put. I'm also a tech lead and have been through a similar journey. I felt like I was a bad leader as I wasn't micro-managing (deliberately of course!). In my company there are a few senior people who seem to think the best leaders need to have big egos and make the decisions, micro-manage and keep tabs on people but the results and team happiness when leading without ego and being an enabler says otherwise!