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I have one week left as a manager before I start a new job as an IC. I am so excited to change back to being responsible for only my own output.

grumpyprole 3y ago
If it were only that simple. Often one needs to be at least a team lead to set the technical direction. As an IC, I sometimes found myself being asked to implement a solution in a form that I did not agree with.
- mattchamb 3y ago
  I don't think that changes much. To oversimplify; by telling you how to do it, the team lead is taking responsibility for the outcome of your output. You are just responsible for doing it how they said.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- ralphstodomingo 3y ago
  With the right team/leader, there'd be room for your inputs on the matter. Even if you find yourself in a not-so-good team setup, I'd argue there's still merit in letting your opinion be known, regardless of whether you end up implementing said solution in the way you were told or not.
  - Aeolun 3y ago
    You can only have that shot down so many times before you give up.
    - Dextro 3y ago
      Very much this. And when people give up it can take one of two forms: Either the person quits. Or the person resigns to giving mediocre output and coasts. Neither is good for the business and yet people keep pushing workers (not even just in tech) into that position to the point it's now a cliché.
KnobbleMcKnees 3y ago
I'm on the journey back too and can't wait to find a role where I actually have some creative input and decision making again. This obviously varies from role to role but I was told I would be highly involved in deciding what the team does and how they go about it. The reality is that I am responsible for arbitrating the delivery of decisions from more senior managers to the teams and the decisions from the teams on how they execute on those decisions back to the managers. Facilitating the growth of other engineers is wonderful but, frankly, I can do that (and was doing that) as an IC. If I'm honest I don't think the exact role I want exists out there but I think I'll make a far better "lieutenant" to a manager who actually likes the job than I make a manager who is becoming increasingly unengaged with their own role.
- steelframe 3y ago
  > The reality is that I am responsible for arbitrating the delivery of decisions from more senior managers to the teams and the decisions from the teams on how they execute on those decisions back to the managers. "What would you say... you do here?"
- mattchamb 3y ago
  I experienced the exact same things. I have never before felt so accountable for decisions that I have such little input on.
taway1874 3y ago
Good for you! Just like software engineering, people management is not for everyone. Hope you build kick-ass software in your next role.

grumpyprole 3y ago

If it were only that simple. Often one needs to be at least a team lead to set the technical direction. As an IC, I sometimes found myself being asked to implement a solution in a form that I did not agree with.

mattchamb 3y ago
I don't think that changes much. To oversimplify; by telling you how to do it, the team lead is taking responsibility for the outcome of your output. You are just responsible for doing it how they said.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
ralphstodomingo 3y ago
With the right team/leader, there'd be room for your inputs on the matter. Even if you find yourself in a not-so-good team setup, I'd argue there's still merit in letting your opinion be known, regardless of whether you end up implementing said solution in the way you were told or not.
- Aeolun 3y ago
  You can only have that shot down so many times before you give up.
  - Dextro 3y ago
    Very much this. And when people give up it can take one of two forms: Either the person quits. Or the person resigns to giving mediocre output and coasts. Neither is good for the business and yet people keep pushing workers (not even just in tech) into that position to the point it's now a cliché.

KnobbleMcKnees 3y ago

I'm on the journey back too and can't wait to find a role where I actually have some creative input and decision making again. This obviously varies from role to role but I was told I would be highly involved in deciding what the team does and how they go about it. The reality is that I am responsible for arbitrating the delivery of decisions from more senior managers to the teams and the decisions from the teams on how they execute on those decisions back to the managers. Facilitating the growth of other engineers is wonderful but, frankly, I can do that (and was doing that) as an IC. If I'm honest I don't think the exact role I want exists out there but I think I'll make a far better "lieutenant" to a manager who actually likes the job than I make a manager who is becoming increasingly unengaged with their own role.

steelframe 3y ago
> The reality is that I am responsible for arbitrating the delivery of decisions from more senior managers to the teams and the decisions from the teams on how they execute on those decisions back to the managers. "What would you say... you do here?"
mattchamb 3y ago
I experienced the exact same things. I have never before felt so accountable for decisions that I have such little input on.

taway1874 3y ago

Good for you! Just like software engineering, people management is not for everyone. Hope you build kick-ass software in your next role.