Doing the Managing vs. being the Manager

Inspired by Austin Kleon but for Engineering Managers.

In 2015, Austin Kleon wrote “The noun and the verb”.

This very intriguing post, mostly known among creatives and makers:

Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb. They want the job title without the work.

Let go of the thing that you’re trying to be (the noun), and focus on the actual work you need to be doing (the verb).

Doing the verb will take you someplace further and far more interesting than just wanting the noun.

I wondered how it applies to Software Engineers wanting to become Engineering Managers.

Let’s go on this journey together to think it through.

By the end of this article, I promise you will have at least some interesting reading suggestions and who knows, maybe some inspiration based on this idea.

You’re a Software Engineer in a 1-1 with your manager when they ask you about your career aspirations. You say, "I want to be an Engineering Manager". It’s a common answer, but do…