As a senior engineer I don't really agree. I've had good and bad managers over time, and the presence of good managers has been key when I've had more success and satisfaction.
For me, the good ones help me do the work that I am usually bad at or don't want to do: the nitty gritty of task prioritization, keeping track of the a bunch of the higher level details, parsing leadership's emanation for product direction, etc. That, and acting like a shield to deflect any badness that might come down from above.
I like contributing opinions and so on to all that, but I don't want to be the person attending all those meetings and being the final arbiter -- at least not right now. So I'm very happy to have someone there doing that, so I can operate more at the technical level.
I guess I'm a bit ADHD, but a lot of what managers do doesn't motivate me, sorry. So, yes, please to having someone fill those shoes. If they're good.
But a bad manager, yes... a problem. Luckily it's a competitive job market, and my skills such as they are can be used elsewhere, with better management.
For me, the good ones help me do the work that I am usually bad at or don't want to do: the nitty gritty of task prioritization, keeping track of the a bunch of the higher level details, parsing leadership's emanation for product direction, etc. That, and acting like a shield to deflect any badness that might come down from above.
I like contributing opinions and so on to all that, but I don't want to be the person attending all those meetings and being the final arbiter -- at least not right now. So I'm very happy to have someone there doing that, so I can operate more at the technical level.
I guess I'm a bit ADHD, but a lot of what managers do doesn't motivate me, sorry. So, yes, please to having someone fill those shoes. If they're good.
But a bad manager, yes... a problem. Luckily it's a competitive job market, and my skills such as they are can be used elsewhere, with better management.