making_of_manager_s_manager.pdf

Transitioning from an engineering manager to a manager of managers can be a confusing, challenging yet rewarding time. You get to help grow engineering leaders while being responsible for the success of multiple teams or even an entire department, no pressure! You have a new set of peers and high stakes stakeholders. How does your experience as an engineering manager apply to this role? What new skills will help you succeed?



Having been through the highs and lows of such a transition myself, in this talk I will share tips on navigating power dynamics, recovering from mistakes at this level and more. You will leave this talk with an increased understanding of what managing managers entails and tools to help you navigate such a transition successfully.

Referred links :

https://www.honeycomb.io/blog/an-engineering-managers-bill-of-rights-and-responsibilities/

https://www.attack-gecko.net/2018/06/25/building-a-first-team-mindset/

https://mobile.twitter.com/GergelyOrosz/status/1572138604834570246?cxt=HHwWjIC-7ejurdErAAAA

https://twitter.com/sophaskins/status/1577692958786260993

https://twitter.com/Lanooba/status/1524425391234076674?t=1q1mA2MGA0RPe-LSpunXQA&s=19

Transcript

1. The Making of a Manager’s Manager Anita Singh 
 Director of Engineering @anitas3791
2. Chapter 1 To Be or Not to Be 🧐 Source
3. Would you actually like your manager’s job? (An Engineering Manager’s Bi ll of Rights by Emily Nakashima)
4. Source Still be middle management
5. More responsibility with less control
6. Growing leaders Sta ffi ng Strategy & planning Budgeting Org structure Stakeholder management
7. Source Chapter II Getting there 🙌
8. Source Fill in the gaps to help the business succeed
9. Source Take work o ff your manager’s plate
10. Source Start mentoring and building a community
11. Source Chapter III The Di ff erences 🤯
12. Gain trust of both your direct reports and their teams
13. Demos Skip levels RFCs Engagement surveys Knowledge sharing spaces All hands
14. Your 1:1’s Their topics Their team’s topics
15. Source Have them prioritize themselves before their teams
16. You are being watched 👀 Source
17. Every interaction is an opportunity to shape the culture Source
18. Source Chapter IV Some mistakes 💣
19. Limiting my fi rst team to only peers in our department (design, PM) 🙈
20. These boxes will change! By Gergeley Oroz
21. Still doing the old job, not giving up control sooner
22. Source
23. Chapter V The self care ❤
24. Source Mistakes feel worse as they impact more people
25. Abuse can happen upwards as well ⚠
26. Source
27. Have your own peer group and get frequent feedback, you got this! 💪
28. Good luck & thank you! Anita Singh @anitas3791