Don't lose your engineering edge
Personal Hints | Early Stage Startup
You probably remember the joy of getting your hands dirty – coding, designing systems, and going into the detailed technical work that once excited you.
But then, you climbed the ladder. You moved into management, and suddenly, you found yourself a few steps removed from that day-to-day technical work you loved so much. It's a common story, right? The demands of leading a team often pull you away from the very things that flared your passion in the first place.
As you drift further from the core of what made you fall in love with engineering, it's natural to wonder: Was this management journey worth giving up that hands-on thrill? That's why I believe it's so important to find ways to keep that engineering spark alive and stay connected to your roots.
Even with the demands of management taking up most of your time, you still find ways to get involved in hands-on technical work from time to time.
Look for opportunities – even outside your usual responsibilities – to code, design, or dig into technical work that still gets you excited.
Think back to what initially attracted you to this career and company.
What engineering activities used to make you light up and feel that satisfying sense of accomplishment?
Are you still finding ways to tap into those rewarding moments, or have they been largely replaced by meetings and managerial tasks?
Don't lose touch with the skills and passions that made you successful. Recharge by revisiting those old passions that energised you as an engineer. It doesn't have to be a lot – even small, regular doses can help you reconnect with that core driving force.
Because ultimately, that passion is what made you an effective leader in the first place.
Why do you move away from the code
Moving from being a technical expert to a manager often means you'll naturally spend less time doing the hands-on work.
It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong; it’s just how leadership roles are structured. Managing your team and making sure projects get delivered simply eats up the time you once spent coding or designing.
One big worry for many new managers is losing their technical skills. It can feel like a real identity crisis, especially when your professional worth has always been tied to how good you are with the tech.
And let's be honest, in the fast-paced world of technology, skills can become old news pretty quickly if you don't keep them sharp.
That fear of falling behind or feeling irrelevant can lead to some serious "what if" moments later on.
"Hands-On", it's more than just coding
It’s easy to think that being "hands-on" as an engineering manager means you have to be writing code every day.
But here’s the thing: it’s actually about a much deeper involvement in your team’s work and overall well-being.
It’s about keeping your finger on the technical pulse of the team, even if you’re not personally typing out lines of code.
A truly hands-on manager uses their technical background not to be the star coder, but to guide and benefit the entire team.
This means you understand how your team builds high-quality applications, you know if they’re happy and productive, and you make sure they’re using the right approaches.
Your technical skill, in this context, is about understanding and being good at the methods, processes, and techniques your team uses.
When your team hits a tough technical problem, a hands-on manager can lead by example.
Not by solving it for them, but by guiding their thinking, asking smart questions, or encouraging lively technical discussions that help the team find their solutions.
A part of this "hands-on" approach is constantly boosting your technical understanding by staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
This helps you make informed decisions, keep your team’s practices aligned with cutting-edge technology, and learn from successful tech implementations.
Practical ways to keep your technical edge
One of the smartest ways for you to stay technically sharp is to learn from your team. Instead of trying to tackle every technical challenge yourself, you can guide your team on experimental projects.
This might involve exploring new technologies together.
You won't be writing the code, but you'll be deeply involved in the technical evolution, constantly soaking up new knowledge.
Your team is a goldmine of different experiences, viewpoints, and skills. Tapping into this diversity is a constant source of fresh ideas.
Junior engineers, for example, often bring fantastic energy and a willingness to explore new things.
By giving them the tools to experiment, you can learn so much from their progress, the problems they hit, and the solutions they come up with. It creates a powerful, shared learning environment where everyone, including you, benefits.
Actively mentoring and teaching junior engineers isn't just about their growth; it's a super-effective way to cement your understanding.
When you explain complex technical concepts, you're forced to articulate them clearly, spot any gaps in your knowledge, and reinforce what you know.
It's true what they say: teaching is also a form of learning.
While your direct coding time might be limited, you can dedicate time to strategic personal development by "studying" new technologies and concepts that are relevant to your team's future.
Staying technically connected matters
Keeping your technical skills sharp, even if you're not coding daily, significantly increases your credibility with your team and your peers.
When you can jump into detailed technical discussions, ask insightful questions, and offer relevant perspectives, you build immense trust.
It makes you a more respected and influential leader.
Deep technical knowledge also helps you make wiser decisions and assess risks more accurately.
You can better estimate how difficult projects will be, ask probing questions about implementation challenges, and provide invaluable insights.
This leads to more informed, strategic, and ultimately, more effective decisions.
A strong, maintained technical skill set gives you invaluable career flexibility.
It helps prevent you from getting stuck in one specific role or company, opening up broader options and opportunities if your current path changes.
In our rapidly evolving industry, it’s a crucial form of career insurance.