Five years before I became a manager…
Five years before I became a manager, I turned down a lead role.
Not because the opportunity wasn't real. Because I wasn't sure I'd be a good people manager.
And honestly—I still had more I wanted to build technically.
So I stayed an IC. Kept my head down. Grew.
Five years later, the manager of the product I was technically leading left.
There was an opening.
This time, something felt different.
I thought: I've done the technical work. Let me try this. Worst case—I go back to IC. I had a plan either way.
That's the part most engineers skip.
They either:
• Say yes too early
• Or say no—and never revisit it
The IC vs. manager question isn't a one-time decision.
It's one you should keep asking—because you keep changing.
And most people get this wrong:
They treat it like a promotion.
It's not. It's a career pivot.
Here's the framework I wish more engineers had:
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1. Stop asking "Am I ready?" Ask: "What energizes me?"
ICs scale through depth. Managers scale through people.
Neither is harder. They're different crafts.
• The IC solves the problem
• The manager builds the team that solves the problem
One of those should make you lean forward.
Pay attention to that.
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2. Your track record already knows the answer
Look at your last 6 months.
Where were your biggest wins?
• Deep in a complex system?
• Or unblocking someone and watching them ship?
Ambition tells you what sounds impressive.
Track record tells you what's true.
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3. Borrow from the other side
The highest-impact people don't stay in their lane.
• ICs who ignore people dynamics hit a ceiling
• Managers who lose technical depth lose credibility
The edge comes from borrowing.
That's what separates good from exceptional.
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The biggest myth: this is a one-way door
It's not.
You can try management, spend a year, and go back.
You won't lose momentum.
You'll gain perspective most people never get.
But staying in the wrong identity too long?
That's what actually slows you down.
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The decision isn't about status.
It's about being brutally honest about where you create the most value.
Get clear on that.
The path reveals itself.
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If you're thinking about this right now — drop a comment or DM me directly.
Some conversations are better had privately, and I'm happy to think this through with you.