Found in 24 comments on Hacker News
simonw · 2024-03-30 · Original thread
No need for an MBA. You can make your own luck here: start by taking on voluntary leadership roles such as mentorship, or running initiatives within your company (setting up an informal team to codify source code management practices, that kind of thing).

Make sure your own management know that you are interested in this path.

The book The Manager's path has excellent advice on ways you can prepare yourself for management positions: https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

srvaroa · 2024-02-17 · Original thread
I don’t fully agree with all points but there are many words of caution to be spoken about the expectation that by moving to a manager role you get more agency on the things that frustrate you as a sw eng. “The managers path” is a good resource to expand on that. https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...
nemothekid · 2024-02-11 · Original thread
Really recommend The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier

I find it's really more a practical guide, less so a "recipe of success" that other self-help tend to be.

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

A book that is often recommended is, "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fourner (O'Reilly). It's more of a career path reference guide than a cover-to-cover read.

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

For a more universal perspective on leadership (and management) John Maxwell is solid. Easy to read practical advice in a "I knew that but this is a good reminder" sort of way.

Given your founder background you might also appreciate "The Advantage" by Patrick Lencioni. It's more C Level, but much of can apply to a team (e.g., the importance of trust, a feeling of purpose, etc.)

https://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Patrick-Lencioni/dp/8126537...

There are others. This topic or similar comes up from time to time on HN. I'd try the search. It's in the footer if you've never noticed.

weswinham · 2022-03-22 · Original thread
In addition to those technical books, I'd check out:

* Staff Engineer- Great for the tech challenges beyond senior-level https://staffeng.com/book

* The Manager's Path- Good even if you're not going to be a manager. Understanding their perspective makes you more effective https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

* An Elegant Puzzle- What if distributed systems engineering, but with people? https://lethain.com/elegant-puzzle/

sethammons · 2021-08-28 · Original thread
If you've not read The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier, you should.

If you are interested in talking directly with a head of eng who's been around the block, hit me up (email in profile) and I should be able to get you in contact with a woman who has gone from a teammate to lead to manager to a sr manager to director to sr director in a company that went from 30 people to going public with a few hundred people to being acquired and still growing to over 5k people, and who is now taking over eng at a smaller company. They are busy, but I could share your contact info.

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

pkaler · 2021-08-10 · Original thread
It depends. The main lever is where you will find a great mentor. Here are a few points you should think about:

1) Sponsorship/Mentorship. Will your current manager or another manager in the company champion your transition to a manager? Becoming a manager requires a lot of mentorship and coaching. Does HR at your company provide support? Is there a Senior Manager or Director that will mentor you?

2) Levelling. Does your company have a career ladder? Are there Staff Engineer levels? Have you reached this level as an IC? I personally would not sponsor an IC to become a manager if they haven't reached the Staff level. Staff Engineer is a sideways promotion to Manager. Senior Staff Engineer is sideways to Senior Manager.

3) Switching Companies. You should apply for a Staff Engineer position at a new company. During the interview process make it clear that you want to transition to a manager. During the negotiation phase, build a 6 month transition plan with the hiring manager.

4) Read. Read a lot. You should read all of the canonical management books.

https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove-e... https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow... https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0... https://www.amazon.com/Making-Manager-What-Everyone-Looks/dp...

ykat7 · 2021-07-08 · Original thread
This was a nice succinct writeup. On the topic, here are some books I'd recommend for ICs making the jump to a manager role (or thinking about it):

1. The Making of a Manager (https://www.amazon.com/Making-Manager-What-Everyone-Looks-eb...)

2. The Manager's Path (https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...)

3. Crucial Conversations (https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-...)

4. The Coaching Habit (https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Habit-Less-Change-Forever-eb...)

5. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Len...)

I'm still due to read High Output Management (https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove-e...) and Extreme Ownership (https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs-eboo...).

aespinoza · 2020-07-07 · Original thread
I second this. Will Larson's book is definitely one of the best if not the best book I have read on the subject.

There are other good books which can add to it like "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier.(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XP3GJ7F/)

gtirloni · 2019-12-13 · Original thread
This is my list for this Summer (Southern hemisphere here):

* [reading] Atomic Habits (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1847941834)

* [reading] So Good They Can't Ignore You (https://www.amazon.com.br/gp/product/1455509124)

* 97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1492050903)

* The Manager`s Path (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491973897)

* The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787960756)

* Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787976377)

* Who: The A Method for Hiring (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345504194)

* Power Score: Your Formula for Leadership Success (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345547357)

I'm not sure I'll get to all of them but I spent quite some time researching them and think this is a good list.

I usually read 2 books simultaneously because I like to read them and let certain things sink in. It provides a nice way to link some insights.

sethammons · 2019-10-30 · Original thread
Depends on the org. At mine, you go from manager to sr. manager (maybe that means another team under your belt, but still keeping your total reports manageable). From there, the next level up is Director, then VP, then CTO.

I recommend The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier. It takes you all the way from individual contributor to CTO. https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

yitchelle · 2019-09-18 · Original thread
It takes time to gain the management skills needed to be a really good manager. Just think how much time you took to reached your technical skills.

The book written by Camille Fournier to be quite a guide to understanding the path.

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

At the end of the day, and if money is not a motivating factor, I would recommend you to go where you are most happy now and in the future.

btown · 2019-06-15 · Original thread
I’ve heard great things about https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow... as a general set of advice. The Rands leadership Slack is also a great community.
e-_pusher · 2019-02-18 · Original thread
I have found The Manager's Path useful about this. She goes into good detail about what it means to be a manager vs a tech lead, for example.

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

wpietri · 2018-11-22 · Original thread
I knew that the trend for Manager READMEs bothered me, but this really helped me to nail down why. When I'm wearing a manager hat, I see it as my job to serve the people who work for me. But READMEs are a one-way communication medium. They send the message, "It's your job to pay attention to me, the manager. You must learn and conform to my quirks." I think that's exactly the wrong message for a new employee.

This post is written by the author of The Manager's Path, which I also recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

anotheryou · 2018-09-02 · Original thread
- Read this (and even if it's just for a peace of mind to feel prepared): https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

- make sure this is something you want

cottonseed · 2018-02-16 · Original thread
For management: Manager's Path by Camille Fournier: https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...
cottonseed · 2018-01-26 · Original thread
Chapter 9: Boostrapping Culture of The Manager's Path [0] discusses this directly. You might also be interested in the earlier chapters on building and leading teams.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

nick0garvey · 2017-09-24 · Original thread
"A Manager's Path" is outstanding on this topic: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP3GJ7F/

Definitely recommended if you are considering making the transition - or if you are like me and just want a better understanding of how your manager works.

yes do it, setup 30mins per person every 2 weeks, in the meeting invite describe this is a time for discussion, feedback (for you to them and them to you), for things like career progression and also for them to ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking in a more public setting including things about product, company etc. Try to keep the time as consistent as possible and show that these are a priority for you (so don't forget, cancel them etc).

They can be tough conversations, but rewarding on both sides.

If you are leading a team of devs at the very least read these 2 books:-

https://www.amazon.ca/Managing-Humans-Humorous-Software-Engi...

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

helper · 2017-08-05 · Original thread
Maybe read "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier[0]. It focuses a lot on the transition from being an engineer to going into management.

[0]: https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

yoloswagins · 2017-06-14 · Original thread
Managing engineers is a new career, that is separate from being an Engineer. Many engineering skills don't transfer to management, even when you think they do.

As a manager, one of the most important things you can do is schedule regular 1 on 1's with the people who report to you. Both "The Manager's Path"[1] and "Behind Closed Doors"[2] stresses this.

In about 4 months, it'll be helpful to review PG's essay, Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule[3] Right now, you'll be coding most of your time, but you'll soon have more and more meetings. MSMS names the feeling of frustration around meetings, and describes how to handle so many meetings.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Closed-Doors-Management-Progra...

[3] http://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html