The problem with your manager... - by James Stanier

The Engineering Manager is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Let’s start with the thing that you don’t want to hear: your manager will always disappoint you. This isn’t necessarily because they are bad at their job or because they have a specific grudge against you. In fact, generally speaking, they may consistently do an excellent job of managing you and your peers from the perspective of the outputs that the organization produces. However, as you become an increasingly senior leader, there are a number of traits that you will develop, and be expected to master, that will lead to friction upwards: You will be expected to be self-sufficient. This means, in the long term, you will be the one who is responsible for your own development, and you will be expected to be able to self-coach and self-direct. Exactly what you spend your time on will be up to you, and you will be expected to prioritize your own

The Engineering Manager is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Let’s start with the thing that you don’t want to hear: your manager will always disappoint you. This isn’t necessarily because they are bad at their job or because they have a specific grudge against you. In fact, generally speaking, they may consistently do an excellent job of managing you and your peers from the perspective of the outputs that the organization produces. However, as you become an increasingly senior leader, there are a number of tr