How to fail as a New Engineering Manager
As a newer engineering leader or manager, it can take time to judge what success should look like and what things you can avoid.
Becoming a new engineering manager is an exciting and challenging step in any engineer’s career.
However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the stakes are high.
As a new engineering manager, there are countless ways to succeed, but unfortunately, there are also plenty of ways to fail. This blog post will discuss some of the most common ways to fail as a new engineering manager and how to avoid them.
Let’s review a few mistakes that newer engineering leaders make,
Don’t promote themselves 🪜
It’s essential to promote yourself first mentally and start taking on the responsibilities of this new role.
If you continue to act like an IC, you will burn yourself out and won’t deliver results.
You got this job because you deserved it, but it’s important to keep learning to get better at this new job.
Don’t delegate 👉
This is a common mistake 😅.
It would be best to delegate as much as possible, as you will only have time to complete some tasks. You can take on the easy tasks and let your team handle the rest. Delegating is important and should not be skipped.
Do you have all the time in the world to do the job of a manager and maker? then you should assess again as I’m sorry to say but you won’t.
Your job is to enable others and get the tasks done through them.
Will push code like an IC (Individual Contributor) 👩🏽💻
You probably were very good at being an IC, hence why you got promoted. You knew what it takes to be a good IC, but now, as a leader, your priorities and focus should shift.
You won’t be able to ship code like an IC, but that is not to say you shouldn’t. You can assess your priorities and allocate time accordingly ⏲.
Wait to give feedback until performance reviews 👀
Feedback should be given frequently. Your job is to make your team the best it can be. Feedback will allow you to do this. Don’t wait until performance reviews for this.
> Nothing should come off as a surprise during performance reviews.
Don’t set clear expectations
One of the most common mistakes new engineering managers make is failing to set clear expectations. It’s easy to assume that everyone knows what is expected of them, but this is rarely true.
As an engineering manager, you must clearly and regularly communicate your expectations. This includes everything from project deadlines to team goals to individual performance expectations.
Without clear expectations, your team will struggle to meet your standards, leaving you frustrated and disappointed.
Don’t partner with Product, Design, or Data Science 🤝
Identify who you should collaborate with and partner with them to make the decisions. Your expertise is in one area, and working closely with your squad will allow you to make the best decisions for your team and product.
Leadership is a never-ending journey 🚗
One day you will think you know everything, but you may feel the opposite the next, so don’t be too hard on yourself and keep learning. Lean on your friends and family, and take care of yourself 💖.
Remember, being a successful engineering manager is not just about technical skills; it’s also about leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. Good luck on your journey! 💛
If you plan to use any of these techniques or have more to share, please comment below and would love to know your thoughts! 💬
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