A few months ago, my manager went on maternity leave and chose me to replace her for 10 months until she'd be back.
I had no management experience or background, so it was surprising for both the other engineers and myself.
But as someone that embraces challenges, and loves to experience new stuff, I couldn't get more excited with the opportunity.
Bellow I list a few of my learnings.
It doesn't matter how good of an engineer you are, it doesn't mean you're going to be a good manager
I've been proud of being a good engineer for a while, and most of the feedback I have received has been positive for a few years in a row. Turns out that being a manager is much different than being an engineer, and that being good as an engineer doesn't mean you're going to be a good manager.
That was my case!
When I first started in her position, I was completely lost.
Previously, I used to know what my weekly challenges would be. However, when I transitioned into management, there was always something new popping up, and it usually revolved around people.
One example was that at a certain moment, there was quite a big conflict between an engineer and the PM. I had no idea how to deal with it.
Build trust ASAP
Nothing will help you more in the journey as a manager, than having the trust of your employees.
When I started, I was probably terrible, as I said before. But having created trust with the people, and making sure that they understood that I was there for them was what helped me the most.
By having their trust, and always being transparent with them, I could give feedback, learn their struggles, and fight for a better situation.
Don't keep hands-on, or at least not very often
I had to learn it in the worst way. When I initially transitioned to the EM position, I thought I would still have time to be hands-on. For a couple of months, I tried to do both, be an engineer, and be a manager. I learned that I was not doing well either.
Nor I did have time to focus on solving technical problems, nor did I pay careful attention to the people problem.
When transitioning to a people manager position, your focus needs to be the people.
You will become a better engineer by working a bit as a manager
Yes, that's right. Even if you will not be coding as much, or dealing as much with technical problems, you can be sure that by working as a manager, you will become a better engineer.
Being an engineer is much more than just focusing on the hard skills, and by becoming a manager, you will start taking deadlines more seriously, you will learn how to communicate better, have more empathy to deal with tough situations, and have more focus on what matters.
Management is not for everyone
If you are trying to be a manager or have read through it, it doesn't feel like the right fit for you, embrace the IC path. Both paths have their own unique challenges and rewards.
Focus on where your strengths and passions lie, and you'll find fulfillment and achievement in your career.
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