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Embracing your spot in the middle

Being in the middle as an EM doesn't have to feel aimless and without impact.

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Mar 5, 2024

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4 min read

There’s an interesting pattern I’ve seen in many newer engineering managers who are maybe 6-9 months into their first tenure as an EM. The honeymoon period of being an EM for the first time has often worn off (not to say that you’re not enjoying your work, but you’re usually more “into it” at this stage), and new, troubling feelings may begin to develop. I’ve heard questions such as:

  • How can I make sure I’m actually having an impact when I’m not coding anymore?

  • On the flip side, how can I make sure I’m being impactful when I don’t have control over what happens in the levels above me?

  • Am I doing a good job? Does my team like me? Do my closest colleagues like me?

  • Will my team like me still when I have to tell them to do something they won’t want to do or when I need to push them?

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