Tips for Becoming a Better Engineering Manager
Posted March 18th, 2015
There are some skills that all managers must possess, and others that are unique to the kind of team they are leading. If you are trying to get the most out of engineers, here are a few tips to make you a better manager.
Give Credit/Take Blame
The technical nature of engineering makes it easy to identify when, where, why and how something succeeded or failed. If someone on your team does something outstanding, make sure to give them the credit they deserve. And if you are somehow responsible for a failure, be willing to take responsibility and shoulder the consequences.
Manage Those Above
Your stated job is to manage the engineers below you, but your actual responsibilities often require you to manage the expectations of the managers and executives above you. Do the best for your team by keeping those expectations realistic and focused toward your team’s strengths.
Become a Problem Solver
The greatest contribution you can make to your team is being the person that knows how to get problems solved. That doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers though. Surround yourself with resources, and develop expertise in problem-solving strategies.
Fill the Gaps
Every team has gaps in skills, whether they be hard or soft skills. Take the time to figure out what those are and how you can fill them. If you give your team the resources it needs to succeed, you gain their trust, enable them to improve performance, and establish yourself as a member, not just a supervisor.
Embrace Complexity
Engineering is not as black and white as it seems to most. Acknowledge that many question have complex, even contradictory solutions, and then give your team the freedom and resources to pursue those solutions into gray areas.
Offer More Than Just Compensation
Generous salary and benefits are important for keeping your engineers happy, but people want more than that from a job. As a manager, you need to consider their emotional, intellectual, personal, and financial needs as a whole if you want things to run as smoothly as possible.
Eliminate Boredom
Engineers are a curious, restless bunch by nature. It can be hard to detect when boredom is creeping onto you team, but when it does it can affect efficiency, productivity, and team cohesion, and lead ultimately to burnout and turnover. Always be taking steps to keep each member of your team engaged.
Another way to become a better engineering manager is to spend less time building a great team. Get the help you need to optimize your engineering workforce faster by partnering with Bayside Solutions.
