On becoming Management
 

So. I've been a software developer for about 10 years now, and finally taken the plunge into management-land. I'm a little scared, to be honest. I don't want to lose my Skills. I don't want to become one of Those managers.

Any advice from the TFP on a transition to Management?

Congratulations!!!

Decide what kind of manager you want to be. Are there any managers that you've had that you admired their management style or processes? Find one you like in your company or outside of your company and ask them to mentor you. I learned an awful lot because someone else was willing to guide me on management principles and of course things you'd never think that you'd ever want to encounter as a manager.

A book that I read when I went from managing 2-3 people to 15 people.


Me, I always was a communicative manager, and I have always been a hands on manager, roll up my sleeves work shoulder to shoulder. I would never ask someone to do something that I wouldn't do myself first. I call it Primus inter pares, "first among equals"

After the people management, it's time management. Learn how to manage your time. You can ask them to send you to a time management course. Learning to balance your time for managing and doing, and of course your own life is very challenging.

congrats again!

Sweet, thanks for the advice!

Yes, I do have role models with the management thing. My former and current boss both totally rock, in different ways, and I hope I can learn a lot from them.

My former manager, who encouraged me to take this step, is incredibly supportive, and an all-around awesome manager. I also have a crush on her, but that's another post.

My new current boss (I'm now a peer of my former manager), is very good, with a bit of a different approach. I think I can learn a lot from both of them. Should be fun.

Alas, I don't have as much confidence in 'upper management' as I do in my immediate supervisor, so...it should be interesting, anyway.

I think I may order the book you recommend, as well as this one:
Any other management-ey books or resources to recommend?

Kisses,

Nice. I hate doing presentations. I really hate doing them.

This is like a cliff notes version. I think I need to re-read the book.
http://www.itcoaches.org/pdf/First%2...he%20Rules.pdf

sung to the tune of "The Red Flag"

"The working class, can kiss my arse:
I've got the foreman's job at last!"

Remember that you can't be friends with your direct reports. Socializing, etc. is fine but you can't let a personal relationship get in the way of the needs of the business...

I found the book "Management for Dummies" to be helpful when I first had supervisory responsibilities. From time to time now (over a decade later) I still pull it out and take a look at some of the ideas in it.