People seek leadership, regardless of who provides it. That said, don't be a dick and actively undermine the tech lead with the team (especially behind his/her

People seek leadership, regardless of who provides it. That said, don't be a dick and actively undermine the tech lead with the team (especially behind his/her back), that makes you just as bad or even worse. That said, you can start providing leadership by helping people get back on the right track, and help work on team morale. You should "help" the tech lead even if they don't want it (aren't asking for it) by helping people get organized, see the true schedule and make sure work is done timely as best you can. Help people see things can be different, everyone just has to get on the same page etc. Challenge the tech leads timelines/estimates directly but not by being actively confrontational but showing why you feel the estimate is low or wrong. For example, if you and the team feel it is a 4 week effort for a feature set but the lead is saying 2 weeks, challenge the details on why it should be 4 weeks, bring up all the time sensitive tasks he/she is glossing over. Doing this in a meeting with the team and tech lead during planning is good, as long as you are doing it respectfully and with the goal of getting the best result -- the team will support you if you are right. You won't be able to fix all problems, but you can have a huge impact on a team if you demonstrate and provide leadership. I have personally done this in the past and it makes a huge difference for teams. Work on the team morale by talking to people about non-work things, get to know them and use some humor and get people having some fun. It amazes me how many engineering leaders just don't get how people work & function. Getting people to smile and have a little fun makes a huge difference in how they work and who they will support. If the leadership team above your tech lead is decent, they'll see the differences and you will likely be moved to a different role where you can have a bigger impact. Don't hide that you are helping (you have to be your own cheerleader to some degree) but don't run around beating on your chest either. Humble but not hiding is how I like to describe it.