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Ask HN: What is your advice to a new manager?

51 points by yalogin 7y ago

I would like to pick the brains of experienced managers here and se what they think are things a new manager should do, study, look for etc.

mtmail 7y ago
180 comments in "Ask HN: Going from Developer to Manager. What should I know or learn?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18823616 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18823616 200 comments in "Ask HN: What are the signs that you have a great manager?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20230133 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20230133 17 comments in "Ask HN: How do I become a better team lead for a small, junior dev team?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18687213 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18687213
greenyoda 7y ago
If you search HN for "new engineering manager", it will turn up some of the past discussions: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=new%20engineering%20manager&sort=byPopularity&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que... This one, for example, is an article called "How to fail as a new engineering manager", with lots of good advice in the comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18011381 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18011381 (106 comments) Here's another one: "Ask HN: How do I deal with my engineering team and motivate myself?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10892288 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10892288 (46 comments) I was an engineering manager for about a decade before I quit and went back to being a developer. I hesitate to give specific advice, since I don't think I was very good at it. But here are some things that, looking back, were sources of difficulty: - You can do some amount of development work, but don't put yourself on the critical path for your group's work, or you won't have time to do the important things that only a manager can do. (Or you'll try to do everything at once, and burn out.) - Don't be too friendly with the people who report to you. It's hard enough to lay off an employee, but having to decide which of your friends to lay off is much harder. You also don't want to be in the position of telling your friend that their work needs to improve, etc. (Similarly, don't be surprised if the people who report to you don't want to be your drinking buddies.)
ned7 7y ago
I am a startup founder managing a team of 3 developers and 2 sales persons, I can say from my personal experience that team building and culture are the most important points a new manager can focus on. 1. Team building: you should ensure your team share a vision, are aligned around the same goals, and each one of them is a accountable for one specific subject she/he is good at. 2. Team culture: try to naturally build a cult like culture for your team, by that I mean some kind of special rituals or habits that differentiate you from other teams or groups. This will strengthen the bonds between team members and improve productivity long term.
new_guy 7y ago
1, CYA it's sad that I have to say that, but yes, cover your ass, politics plays a big part in jobs and (good) managers generally shield you from the pressure so until you're in that position you've no idea how bad it can be 2, don't be too friendly with the people reporting to you, they won't take you seriously as a manager and will happily go over your head 3, encourage personal growth of your team and be there for them as a mentor and friend (which contradicts 2, there's a balance to get)
- jhatemyjob 7y ago
  > until you're in that position you've no idea how bad it can be The exception being, having a manager who not only does not shield you from politics, but creates even more politics themselves.
- joshschreuder 7y ago
  I have heard managers described as a "shit umbrella" for their team, I'm pretty sure now that that's true, especially for good managers. Know when to keep your team out of things they don't need to worry about or be involved in and in general I think they'll be happier for it.
pikapikamtf 7y ago
don't be a dick
jhatemyjob 7y ago
Not a manager, but as someone who had a REALLY political manager who tried to undermine everyone around him, including (and especially) his subordinates, The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene taught me how to cover my ass and how to generally be effective in an org.
- valand 7y ago
  Nice book. Nice suggestion.
hos234 7y ago
Part of your reading list must include books on Psychology to better understand individuals and Social Psychology to better understand groups.
- mandeepj 7y ago
  any recommendations?
  - hos234 7y ago
    The Little Book of Psychology will give you the lay of the land. Then build up your library over time as you deal with specific issues. The key is awareness of the important concepts of the field. Most managers have very little awareness of the field. And under time and resource pressure, come up with their own half baked theories and solutions which seed further issues and compound misunderstanding.
pramit 7y ago
Good advice from Tiny Skills / The Success Manual: Things A New, First-Time Manager Should Know To Succeed https://www.thesuccessmanual.in/chapter/things-a-new-first-time-manager-should-know-to-succeed https://www.thesuccessmanual.in/chapter/things-a-new-first-t...
allanmacgregor 7y ago
Be kind and lead by context. Is surprising how many managers think that their job is being the dictator in charge, and how often they treat their teams as children. Your job as a manager is to remove blockers, provide context and make sure your team is working effectively.

51 points by yalogin 7y ago

I would like to pick the brains of experienced managers here and se what they think are things a new manager should do, study, look for etc.

mtmail 7y ago

180 comments in "Ask HN: Going from Developer to Manager. What should I know or learn?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18823616 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18823616 200 comments in "Ask HN: What are the signs that you have a great manager?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20230133 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20230133 17 comments in "Ask HN: How do I become a better team lead for a small, junior dev team?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18687213 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18687213

greenyoda 7y ago

If you search HN for "new engineering manager", it will turn up some of the past discussions: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&query=new%20engineering%20manager&sort=byPopularity&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que... This one, for example, is an article called "How to fail as a new engineering manager", with lots of good advice in the comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18011381 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18011381 (106 comments) Here's another one: "Ask HN: How do I deal with my engineering team and motivate myself?" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10892288 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10892288 (46 comments) I was an engineering manager for about a decade before I quit and went back to being a developer. I hesitate to give specific advice, since I don't think I was very good at it. But here are some things that, looking back, were sources of difficulty: - You can do some amount of development work, but don't put yourself on the critical path for your group's work, or you won't have time to do the important things that only a manager can do. (Or you'll try to do everything at once, and burn out.) - Don't be too friendly with the people who report to you. It's hard enough to lay off an employee, but having to decide which of your friends to lay off is much harder. You also don't want to be in the position of telling your friend that their work needs to improve, etc. (Similarly, don't be surprised if the people who report to you don't want to be your drinking buddies.)

ned7 7y ago

I am a startup founder managing a team of 3 developers and 2 sales persons, I can say from my personal experience that team building and culture are the most important points a new manager can focus on. 1. Team building: you should ensure your team share a vision, are aligned around the same goals, and each one of them is a accountable for one specific subject she/he is good at. 2. Team culture: try to naturally build a cult like culture for your team, by that I mean some kind of special rituals or habits that differentiate you from other teams or groups. This will strengthen the bonds between team members and improve productivity long term.

new_guy 7y ago

1, CYA it's sad that I have to say that, but yes, cover your ass, politics plays a big part in jobs and (good) managers generally shield you from the pressure so until you're in that position you've no idea how bad it can be 2, don't be too friendly with the people reporting to you, they won't take you seriously as a manager and will happily go over your head 3, encourage personal growth of your team and be there for them as a mentor and friend (which contradicts 2, there's a balance to get)

jhatemyjob 7y ago
> until you're in that position you've no idea how bad it can be The exception being, having a manager who not only does not shield you from politics, but creates even more politics themselves.
joshschreuder 7y ago
I have heard managers described as a "shit umbrella" for their team, I'm pretty sure now that that's true, especially for good managers. Know when to keep your team out of things they don't need to worry about or be involved in and in general I think they'll be happier for it.

pikapikamtf 7y ago

don't be a dick

jhatemyjob 7y ago

Not a manager, but as someone who had a REALLY political manager who tried to undermine everyone around him, including (and especially) his subordinates, The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene taught me how to cover my ass and how to generally be effective in an org.

valand 7y ago
Nice book. Nice suggestion.

hos234 7y ago

Part of your reading list must include books on Psychology to better understand individuals and Social Psychology to better understand groups.

mandeepj 7y ago
any recommendations?
- hos234 7y ago
  The Little Book of Psychology will give you the lay of the land. Then build up your library over time as you deal with specific issues. The key is awareness of the important concepts of the field. Most managers have very little awareness of the field. And under time and resource pressure, come up with their own half baked theories and solutions which seed further issues and compound misunderstanding.

pramit 7y ago

Good advice from Tiny Skills / The Success Manual: Things A New, First-Time Manager Should Know To Succeed https://www.thesuccessmanual.in/chapter/things-a-new-first-time-manager-should-know-to-succeed https://www.thesuccessmanual.in/chapter/things-a-new-first-t...

allanmacgregor 7y ago

Be kind and lead by context. Is surprising how many managers think that their job is being the dictator in charge, and how often they treat their teams as children. Your job as a manager is to remove blockers, provide context and make sure your team is working effectively.