Most engineering managers are familiar with performance reviews. Yet, it's much harder to pause and do a thorough, honest self-assessment. You might w

Blog for Engineering Managers

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2024-11-08 12:30:04

Most engineering managers are familiar with performance reviews. Yet, it's much harder to pause and do a thorough, honest self-assessment. You might wonder "How do I measure my leadership skills?" and “How do I know if I am performing well as a manager?”. These questions are challenging to answer because they require insight, reflection, and intentionality.

In this post, I explain how I assess my performance as an engineering manager. I hope my approach helps you evaluate your work meaningfully and set a path for continuous improvement.

A strong indicator of an effective engineering manager is the health and culture of their team. But assessing these nuanced qualities isn’t just evaluating if people are "getting along", but seeing alignment, psychological safety, and motivation.

Psychological Safety: "Do my team members feel comfortable raising concerns or challenging ideas?". Teams that are psychologically safe are willing to take risks without fearing retribution or embarrassment. This safety often reflects the manager’s attitude toward mistakes and innovation.