TL;DR The future belongs to managers who coach, code (strategically), and lead with leverage.
Org charts are flattening. AI reduces busywork. Coordination is no longer enough. As middle layers shrink, the engineering manager role must evolve—from process owner to impact enabler.
Today’s high-performing EMs act as player/coaches. They stay close to code and delivery while unblocking and mentoring teams. The key: smart structure and selective involvement.
Staying Hands-On (Without Dropping the Ball)#
- Async updates over status meetings: Use tools like Loom, Slack standups, or Notion check-ins.
- 15-min 1:1s with shared agendas: Focus on blockers, not updates.
- Group coaching via office hours: Scales better than ad-hoc pings.
- Use AI for people ops: Summarize feedback, track goals, draft review bullets.
This frees time to:
- Debug hard problems alongside the team
- Pair on PRs for critical features
- Roll up sleeves to help ship during crunch time
Embracing AI as a Multiplier#
- Automate toil: CI alerts, changelog gen, test triage
- Use GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT for PR assistance
- Embed AI in workflows, model it for the team
Key shifts:
- From tracking → enabling
- From control → influence
- From siloed leader → visible contributor