How to Survive Without a Playbook as an Engineering Manager
Becoming a leader has “perks”, but they aren’t the ones you’re thinking… Power is meaningless without trust. Money comes with a higher risk of getting fired, often for things you didn’t do, or because your role isn’t well understood. And status fades fast when people see it’s just another human at the helm.
I’m talking about the real “perks.” The ones that aren’t mentioned before you get the job (like no one tells you how challenging parenting is until after). As an engineer, you’re used to finite games with clear checkpoints and outcomes. But in management, the “games” become infinite - you’re constantly throwing balls and waiting to see if you hit the mark.
On good days, you can rely on frameworks like the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). But often it’s just FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) and impostor syndrome, as your sense of control over schedule, priorities, and emotional state is constantly challenged.
But the hardest part? It’s not knowing what to do next, because there is no GPS (or even a good map). There is no tutorial, documentation, or test suite to guide you.
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