Management or Stay in the Trenches? 1

[MadMango]

The manager of our R&D Department is tendering his resignation. I’ve been approached by the Director of Engineering and VP of Operations to assume the vacancy being left behind. Currently I’m the "Senior Designer". Basically, a design troubleshooter, moving from project to project, getting teams out of the ruts they might be stuck in when required. I also work solo on projects, moving them along from cradle to grave.

My question is, I really like getting into the trenches: doing CAD work, analysis, meeting vendors, researching materials and components, etc. etc. I fear if I accept this management position, I will have to move away from the things I like. I’ll be compensated for the additional responsibilities, which is fine. I’m just not sure if I want to become one of “them”... I’ve always been part of “us”. I’ve got a BSE and have been enjoying work for the last 8 years in several different industries. Is it time to step-up?


Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Nate101]

Similar boat here.
My boss is thinking of moving on and has suggested me take her position. Since I'm the only one playing manufacturing engineer here I keep telling her the company would have to hire someone to replace me. The company is tight on hiring anyone so I am safe for now.

 

[makeup]

I have moved up and hate it. I spend more time now listening to people wining and soughting people problems than doing what I did best. Look out I;m on my way back.

 

[corus]

The question of 'stepping-up' to management level really depends on what kind of role you want to play. Some managers will immediately disassociate themselves from the ranks of the unwashed masses while others will carry on more or less as before but having a more wide ranging advisory role.

corus

 

[VEBill]

Depends on the company as well...

"Is it time to step-up?"

Almost always - YES!, don't miss your chance.

 

[JasonG]

Success is how you define it. It sounds like you really like the position you have now. If you prefer working in the trenches to managing then the so called "promotion" is not really a step up, but a step down.

 

[MadMango]

Thanks for the comments folks.

I guess I'm really wondering if 8 years with 3 different companies is enough experience in my back pocket to go into management. From what I have seen, once you cross the threshold you start to lose some skills while developing others. Would I be selling myself short on work experience now if I took this position?

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ctopher]

IMO, good managers keep up with their skills so they know what their employees are doing. Don't lose your skills. If you get the position, always try to stay ahead of your employees. From reading your past threads/forums, I think you can do it.

 

[bumpjones]

GO FOR IT!!! Just be carefull that the job responsibilites in your new position and carefully spelled out and it is understood that you will no longer be availible to perform your old job tasks. Also ensure the additional compensation promised or implied is documented. I didn't do that when I accepted "a promotion" to manage the department and I ended up doing both my new and old jobs. The upside is that being promoted within a company is a great resume builder. Good luck.

 

[flamby]

Based on brief stints with management (when boss goes away on long holidays)I think either you are a good manager who keeps a bird's eye view of everything or a good technocrat who is deep into the details. You can not be both at the same time because time is in such a short supply.

When you are into management, you will have to provide 100 current-status forms to 100 people and all in different formats, attend 100 calls, answer 100 emails, make projections and forecasts based on absolutely nothing and yet defend them when these go wrong as per Murphy. In such circumstances, your survival will come at stake if you attempt to do technical work and get lost into some very interesting nut and bolt connection but miss the larger picture. You may miss out on your technical skill set but thet is the price to pay.

In my opinion a good manager should snub any request or his own inclination to go into details, but deligate it to someone less disturbed by the chaos called management.

 

[PSE]

MadMango,

You have been asked to "step up". Did this come as a bit of a surprise to you or did you show aspirations to move into a management role? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Will you have support from other managers and HR?

Will your current peers accept you as their boss?

Will you feel comfortable being in charge of your current peers?

Are you willing to relinguish work on the technical nature of the job? (though from my experience, it won't disappear completely)

You are a "big fish" in the technical pond, you will not be a big fish in the managerial pond. Are you OK with that?

The choice is ultimately yours. Good luck.

Regards,

 

[MadMango]

[blue]PSE[/blue], this wasn't a big surprise, but given our workload I did not think they would consider me. Currently I am the "senior designer" and thought they would look outside for someone to fill the management position. I have expressed interest in the position on past self-appraisals, so I guess someone actually does read those things.

Some of the questions you have presented are great ones. I have no doubt that I would get support from "same-tier" managers, but have no idea of persons in higher positions. Our HR department plays a very small role in things here. I would expect that I would be given the same "powers" as other managers (payroll, budget, etc).

I have a good working relationship with my peers, and I think becoming their manager would not effect that, and I wouldn't have a problem managing them, as I partly do this now.

My main concern is if there is any consideration I should be giving to entering management "too early"? I'm not interested in becoming a heavyweight politico in the corporate structure, and I make a very poor Yes-man.

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[smwpe]

MadMango:

Keep up your technical skills,but GO FOR IT.

Reading the posts I sense that you may have the right stuff to be a great manager. You have time on your side,and have nothing to loose.

Just do it and evaluate your situation in a year.

This recommendtion is based on a lot of experience and is worth what it cost you.

All the best and good luck.

smwpe

 

[GregLocock]

You said you were interested in the position before. I've never seen any particular evidence that old managers are better than young ones. As we say in Oz, JFDI.


Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[PSE]

MadMango,

We would all be better off with fewer yes men in managerial positions. Go for it!

Regards,

 

[ProEpro]

The fact that you are considering your qualifications for the position makes you better than most people already. Since this is a new role for you ask for the training you think you will need. It may just be some management courses or even an MBA. Ask the person you respect the most in senior management to be your mentor. They will be honored and you will get the kind of advice you have been giving on a technical level on a managerial level.

About the less of technical projects. Only you know how much you will miss it. What was your old manager’s workload like? Did they spend all of their time on project management or could they make technical decisions. You will probably be too busy too much more than give technical advice or resolve disagreements. Will you be able to run analysis or do cad? I don’t know any managers that have time for it. Look at some of the other posts about engineers as managers and think about some of the issues that were raised there like lay offs.

Good luck and congratulations. Let us know what you decide.

p.s. You will surprised how good your spouses advice can be about this.

ProEpro

http://www.whitelightdesign.com

Pro/E FAQ

http://www.whitelightdesign.com/servicestips.htm

 

[automatic2]

You'll never forget the skills that you've learnt, because they will form the bases upon which you build. 3 companies in 8 years?, sounds familiar. I would say go for it, for several reasons. It will expose you to varying ideals, not always a good thing, but reality. It will prevent you from later saying, 'I should have'. It will broaden your exposures so that you may chance across a new found 'desire'. Nothings forever, but opportunity should be expressed.