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> Just because an engineer doesn't have direct reports doesn't mean they aren't exhibiting all kinds of leadership behavior that elevates their contributions ab
by PragmaticPulp 5y ago
> Just because an engineer doesn't have direct reports doesn't mean they aren't exhibiting all kinds of leadership behavior that elevates their contributions above the level of "individual" - teaching, mentoring, strategy work, leading projects.
That's a good point, but in my experience "individual contributor" is just a code phrase for "not managing direct reports".
Being an IC doesn't mean you're not contributing leadership or strategy, it just means that you're not doing hiring/firing or performance reviews of direct reports.
- simonw 5y agoYeah that's how I understand the term too. So it's an effective piece of language, I just dislike it!
- Rapzid 5y agoYes, but at a lot of larger companies and perhaps the vast majority IC is code for "them". "Us" is management BTW.
- uberdru 5y agoIt's the tortured logic of late capitalism. People who actually 'contribute' somehow retain a semblance of individuality.