A Day in the Life of Austin Engineering Managers

“There is a difference between management and leadership,” RetailMeNot Engineering Manager Ani Chan said. “You can be a manager without being a leader and be a leader without being a manager. The difference is that people need to willingly follow you as a leader.”

Chan said for an engineering manager to be viewed as a leader, they need to cultivate one key trait: trust.

Real leadership is achieved when direct reports want to follow a manager — and contribute to team success — of their own volition, not necessarily because their professional hierarchy dictates it. Building connections with employees and establishing a foundation of trust is a vital part of facilitating that.

“Get to know team members as individuals,” Medici Senior Engineering Manager Raleigh Schickel said. “Treat them as equals. They’ll return that trust with their best work.”

Trust isn’t the only trait engineering leaders should foster within their teams. Adaptability is also important, as different employees might require different management styles. Managers should also help their direct reports reach their professional goals and approach problem-solving the same way they would approach a code to jobs with computer science degree.