The engineer/manager pendulum and you

Once upon a time, going into management was seen as a one-way track: you were either a manager or an engineer. And if you cared about career progression and raises, you were advised to pick the manager track. But times have changed. The best line managers are usually no more than 3-5 years removed from writing code hands-on, and the best senior engineers have usually done time as a manager. The best technologists in the world, the truly great technical leaders at the top of their game, aren’t inclined to pick a lane — instead, they swing back and forth every few years, picking up new challenges and experiences across the spectrum. Like a pendulum. Not only is this the best path for engineers, it also accrues massive benefits to engineering orgs that embrace fluidity, by helping them retain high performers and dismantle hierarchies. We will talk about how to implement a pendulum-friendly set of policies for an organization, as well as how to make good choices and invest in your own career.