The truth about being a manager
4 hours ago
- #Engineering Management
- #Career Transition
- #Leadership Challenges
- Engineering managers often bring work home, dealing with stress from difficult conversations and office politics.
- Managers are no longer 'part of the team'; they experience social distance and may miss team camaraderie.
- Managers must be careful with their words, as casual remarks can be misinterpreted as directives.
- They must diplomatically sell business decisions they disagree with to their team and cannot vent frustrations to subordinates.
- Managers often feel lonely and need peer support from other managers for discussion and venting.
- They carry confidential knowledge, such as re-orgs or personal crises, and must handle questions diplomatically.
- Networking is crucial; managers must understand the business, KPIs, and build relationships across departments.
- Progress can feel unclear compared to engineering roles, requiring goal-setting and avoiding busywork.
- Managers will miss hands-on engineering work and often lack formal training, needing self-education and mentorship.
- Giving and receiving feedback is essential, including upward feedback to their own manager.
- Managers will make mistakes, not be liked by everyone, and must make unpopular decisions.
- They need to be the 'adult in the room,' modeling calm behavior and managing conflicts.
- Selling ideas and advocating for the team, including salaries and promotions, is a key skill.
- Managing up involves supporting their boss's priorities and navigating office politics.
- Managers may feel powerless due to external decisions but must manage emotions to support their team.
- They gain a holistic view of the organization, spotting dependencies and resolving systemic issues.
- Despite challenges, management can be fulfilling, with pride in team success and personal growth.