Read on Twitter
Engineers who have done a tour of duty in management and returned to engineering are unsung heroes and MVPs. They are the Swiss army knives of the technical leadership corps, particularly at startups. https://twitter.com/paulosman/status/1345186957299757057
Why? Well, let's see. 
* They are extremely pragmatic. Once you have learned to see technical problems as business problems, you cannot unsee.
* They have credibility with everyone -- engineers and managers, sure, but also lateral teams like support, product, and sales
* They are extremely pragmatic. Once you have learned to see technical problems as business problems, you cannot unsee.
* They have credibility with everyone -- engineers and managers, sure, but also lateral teams like support, product, and sales
* They usually *aren't* the best engineers in the room, and this is a good thing. They reach for a more holistic toolkit when solving problems instead of just writing more code.
Writing code is more of a last resort for this group, and never underestimate how great that is.
Writing code is more of a last resort for this group, and never underestimate how great that is.
* When someone on the team is struggling, you can tuck them under an ex manager's wing for a little quiet encouragement and mentorship, and walk away with full trust.
* They often give the best review feedback for growth, bc they have a ground level viewpoint managers can't see
* They often give the best review feedback for growth, bc they have a ground level viewpoint managers can't see
* There is a certain type of engineer that is pathologically cynical and mistrusting of anything a manager says (
to distinguish from the ordinary, healthy cynicism we all have). Ex-mgrs are a bridge for them, and often play a translator role behind scenes for the whole team.
to distinguish from the ordinary, healthy cynicism we all have). Ex-mgrs are a bridge for them, and often play a translator role behind scenes for the whole team.
And here's my favorite, the reason I always get excited about talking to engineers who used to be managers, or managers who used to be VPs or directors --
* They are humbler, or maybe it's "sadder but wiser"?
They got a brass ring, wore it around, and chose to give it back.
* They are humbler, or maybe it's "sadder but wiser"?
They got a brass ring, wore it around, and chose to give it back.
We are such hierarchical monkeys. If a ladder exists, we instinctively climb. Our brains drench us with happydrugs 
when we gain social dominance, and resist giving it up.
So I respect anyone who tames their inner status demon and does what brings them joy.
when we gain social dominance, and resist giving it up.So I respect anyone who tames their inner status demon and does what brings them joy.
* Oh, also.. I often find that lots of engineers have never really thought hard or paid attention to power dynamics, until they became a manager and had to.
I could keep going. Engineers who used to be managers are worth their weight in gold and you should hire them. EOF
I could keep going.
Engineers who used to be managers are worth their weight in gold and you should hire them. EOF
