The transition from engineer to engineering manager (EM) feels a lot like moving to a new country.

As an engineer, you’ve spent years in an area you know well. You’ve become familiar with the landscape, culture, and local hotspots. You speak the language and have a solid support network – your life feels comfortable.

Then, you step into the role of an EM, and everything changes.

Now, you’re starting over in a foreign country. You’re unsure of the customs, how and where to navigate, and what the necessary connections are that you need to make. The language is also different, and you’re in a much larger, more competitive environment with new rules to learn.

So, feeling at least some level of anxiety is normal. And it’s not just the fear of navigating this new country you’re facing – it’s also the fear of losing your understanding and connection to the old one.

In other words, this is the fear of losing your technical edge. And it’s one every single engineering manager faces when transitioning into the role.

The two fears of losing your technical edge

As an EM, your daily tasks will shift away from the technical work you used to perform as an engineer. Many engineers, maybe even you, might assume the EM role is a technical one, but it isn’t. 

Just like moving to a new country, you’ll find yourself less involved with the hands-on technical work you once did. And in a fast-paced industry, this can make you worried about falling behind.

Becoming irrelevant

As a senior engineer, you have many pathways in front of you – becoming an EM is just one. But choosing the EM path can make you feel like you’ve cut yourself off from all the others. 

Even though you can return to the engineer role, the time spent away can make you feel irrelevant to the role’s current demands. The industry is always rapidly evolving with no signs of slowing down, so even a few months can feel like years.

For example, a year ago, AI was mostly a buzzword with minimal real-world application. Now, those tools and programs are everywhere – not just in software development but also in sectors like education and entertainment. 

And you know how crucial it’s become for engineers and their everyday tasks – nearly every project has some form of AI integration. As an EM, you won’t be working with these LLMs and other exciting new tech like engineers do.

Staying relevant in a constantly changing landscape like this one is daunting, especially when you’re more removed from the hands-on technical work and juggling numerous other responsibilities. And falling behind can lead you to worry about how your engineers will perceive you.

Losing respect

You know engineers tend to respect their peers for their technical skills. Removed from the engineering role, you’ll face losing their respect as they continue learning and gaining experience while you don’t.

It’s like the old saying, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” 

Again, all of these feelings are natural – I experienced them myself. But remember that while the fears are real, they don’t reflect the truth.

Know that you won’t lose it

Imagine a senior doctor who’s worked for many years diagnosing and treating patients. From experience, they’ve gained a vast amount of knowledge and skills. 

Now, imagine they’re promoted to a hospital director role. While their responsibilities and day-to-day tasks change, they won’t suddenly lose all of their understanding of the human body and medicinal practices. 

Some of their skills and learning will fade with time and lack of use, but much of their knowledge will remain intact. And they can supplement what they remember with continued study and their continued interactions with staff throughout the day, such as other senior doctors.

The same applies to you as an EM. Your technical skills and knowledge won’t suddenly disappear because you switched roles. 

They will diminish over time, but you can stay updated on developments in the field by reading about and discussing them with others. You don’t need to dive as deeply into the technical aspects as before, but you’ll work with your engineers on a daily basis. So, use those opportunities to learn from what they’re doing. All of the above will help you maintain a solid technical foundation.

And if you do happen to lose your technical edge, remember that it doesn’t take too much effort to regain it. You gained the edge once, and this time, you won’t be starting from scratch.

But you will miss it

For me, there’s nothing better than being in a deep work state. When you're fully immersed in creating something, it feels almost transcendent. 

Nowadays, I don’t get to experience that state as much as I would like, and I do miss the feeling. But I chose to become a manager for a reason. 

As an engineer, there’s a limit to what you can accomplish on your own. As a manager, you have a:

  • Broader scope
  • More influence
  • And the chance to collaborate with engineers to build even bigger things

So, the role does have its benefits, and the rewards are worth the risk to me. 

But I also understand leaving behind technical work feels like giving up something you love. In the beginning, this sense of loss is much more noticeable. Especially because you don’t know any of the advantages or benefits of being an EM – you’re still in the thick of the work, and it’s hard to see the bigger picture. 

But this sense of loss does fade over time. Yes, you are always going to miss what you did as an engineer, but you have other ways of maintaining your technical edge. 

And you can keep it

The key to finding satisfaction in your work is switching your focus from you as an individual contributor to we as a team. Your role evolves from personal achievements to supporting and facilitating your team’s growth and success. 

For example:

  • Research new areas and emerging technologies: this will give you the knowledge to direct your team and make decisions on what innovations might be beneficial 
  • Planning and road-mapping: your technical knowledge will stay fresh as you continually assess what’s required for tasks so they are assigned to the right people, taking potential problems into account 
  • Coaching team members: promoting continuing learning helps keep you as well as your ICs relevant
  • Group and one-on-one meetings with your team: provides the space for in-depth technical discussions
  • Reviewing work/progress: keeps you actively engaged in the technical process

You can also work on projects on the side, but you don’t have to. All of the above work is enough to keep your technical knowledge current. And once you make the mental shift from “me” to “we,” seeing your team achieve, product, and innovate is incredibly rewarding.

The short version: you can conquer your fears

I won’t sugarcoat the truth – the transition from engineer to engineering manager is challenging. And you’ll face several fears as a result, including: 

  • Fear of becoming irrelevant in a rapidly evolving environment, especially with the rise of new technologies like AI
  • Fear of losing respect as engineers see you as the person who “can’t do, and can only teach” 
  • Fear of losing your technical edge as you move away from hands-on work

These fears are natural, so go easy on yourself. They’re common for anyone making the transition to the EM role. 

But you can overcome these fears by shifting your focus. Embrace your new role of supporting your team’s technical progress and success, and you’ll stay technically relevant and find satisfaction in your work through them.

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Originally published on Medium.com