Where We Are

Recently, my tech lead scheduled a follow-up meeting that never occurred. Furthermore, my manager has canceled our one-on-one meetings multiple times, leaving me uncertain about the objectives I need to accomplish.

These may seem like minor issues at first, but they accumulate and create a narrative of poor management. If this is happening on a personal level, what does that imply about other management responsibilities?

My confidence in leadership is waning, and it's clear that we need to discover better approaches.

Where We Need to Go

I often feel solely accountable for my relationship with my manager, which isn't healthy or logically sound. I've left positions in the past due to poor management relationships. It's evident that there’s a strong link between employee retention and effective leadership.

The time has arrived to confront management challenges, and I believe that it's not too late for the entire industry to make a change.

The Traits of an Effective Tech Manager

Here’s a preliminary list of traits that characterize successful tech managers:

1. Communication: They clearly express expectations and feedback, ensuring that every team member understands their role and contributions.
2. Empathy: By recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses, they offer tailored support, fostering an inclusive workplace.
3. Delegation and Trust: By assigning tasks effectively and trusting their team's abilities, they promote autonomy while providing necessary support.
4. Visionary Leadership: They develop a clear strategy that aligns team objectives with overall company goals, illustrating the significance of daily contributions.
5. Adaptability and Feedback: They remain open to change, continually refining strategies based on team input and shifting circumstances.

What We Should Do

For change to occur, we must first reflect on our own practices. Here’s a guideline I’ve devised for aspiring tech managers:

1. Listen More Than You Speak: Actively engage with your team’s challenges and feedback, demonstrating openness to change and improvement.
2. Set and Communicate Clear Goals: Clearly define what success means and guide your team toward achieving it while shielding them from upper management pressures.
3. Cultivate a Supportive and Creative Atmosphere: Encourage innovative ideas and celebrate achievements. Foster a workplace that values respect, collaboration, and continuous learning.
4. Be a Model of Integrity and Commitment: Lead by example in ethics, accountability, and professional growth.

What the Industry Should Do

The tech sector is rife with management issues, and collective action is necessary. Here’s how the industry can enhance its management practices:

1. Prioritize Training and Development: Invest in robust training programs for managers that encompass both technical and interpersonal skills. A competent manager should grasp the subtleties of human psychology and team dynamics.
2. Accountability: Managers should be responsible for their team's performance and morale. Implement regular 360-degree feedback sessions for anonymous team input.
3. Promote Transparency: Clearly communicate goals, expectations, and feedback regularly. Transparency builds trust and aligns team objectives with the company’s vision.
4. Foster a Culture of Empathy: Encourage managers to comprehend and support their teams through personal and professional challenges. Empathy can greatly enhance morale and efficiency.
5. Adapt and Evolve: As the tech landscape changes, so should management practices. Encourage managers to stay informed about the latest industry trends and effective practices.
6. Implement Realistic Workloads: Prevent burnout by ensuring that workloads are achievable. Promote a healthy work-life balance by respecting personal time.
7. Encourage Innovation: Create an environment where new ideas are welcomed and tested. Managers should support teams in exploring innovative technologies and methods.
8. Streamline Processes: Minimize unnecessary meetings and bureaucracy. Focus on what truly adds value to the team and project, avoiding the drawbacks of over-management.
9. Lead by Example: Managers should exemplify the behavior they expect from their teams, including punctuality, preparedness, and professionalism.
10. Recognize and Reward: Regularly acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of your team. Recognition can significantly uplift morale and motivation.

The tech industry has the potential to become a model of progressive management. It's time to seize this opportunity and create an environment where everyone can excel.

Conclusion

The role of a tech manager extends well beyond mere task management. True leadership involves motivating and guiding a team to achieve shared goals while focusing on individual and collective growth. The tech industry must aspire to cultivate leaders who are not only technically proficient but also skilled in people management.

About The Author

The Secret Developer, a professional software developer, shares insights on Twitter @TheSDeveloper and regularly publishes articles on Medium.com.

In this video, "How I Got Started in Tech Management (and Should You?)", the speaker shares their personal journey into tech management and offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders.

The video "Become a Great Engineering Manager – Course" provides a comprehensive overview of the skills and strategies essential for effective engineering management.