← Back to context

Comment by xbryanx

2 years ago

Umm, haven’t you just been promoted to bakery manager?

The point is that the jobs are completely different. They require different skill sets.

  • It's not a good point though, because one of the important traits of a good engineering manager is that they understand the work of the ICs they are managing (at least to a reasonable depth).

    • I’ve had many good engineering managers over the decades. None were technical. But they were good because they did have skills in things like running interference for us. In my experience, people skills are far more important than technical skills for good engineering managers.

      2 replies →

  • ... same as bakery manager? And in both cases it helps understanding underlying work, unless you don't just fill forms, organize meetings and chase/yell at people (then you can be easily cut&pasted elsewhere with same great results)

    • At every bakery I’ve been to the “manager” is still actually baking as part of their daily duties.