Making the shift from developer to manager involves more than just technical expertise. It requires building leadership skills, learning to manage people and projects, and shifting your mindset from individual contributor to team enabler. What steps should I take to prepare for this transition, and what challenges should I expect when moving from a developer to manager position?
I’ve been in this transition for about a year now. The biggest shift going from developer to manager was realizing that your success is no longer about your personal output. It’s about how well your team performs. I had to unlearn the urge to jump into code and instead focus on removing blockers, mentoring juniors, and aligning with business goals. Acting as a tech lead first really helped — it gave me the space to build people skills without the full weight of management just yet.
Yeah, I remember being right where you are. What @yanisleidi-rodriguez said about shifting focus really resonates. From my own developer to manager journey, I’d add that communication and emotional intelligence become your new stack. You’ll find yourself doing more 1:1s, managing up, giving feedback, and context-switching like crazy. What helped me? Reading “The Manager’s Path” and finding a mentor who’s been through it. And don’t be surprised if imposter syndrome shows up — it’s completely normal when you’re stepping out of your comfort zone.
Currently navigating this myself, and both your points hit home. The developer to manager switch means the daily dopamine from shipping code gets replaced by longer-term wins, like unblocking a teammate or aligning cross-functional priorities. I’m in more meetings, saying “no” more often to protect the team’s focus, and letting others take the lead on solutions. It’s tough giving up being the go-to problem solver, but it’s fulfilling watching your team grow and own their wins. The high is different, but it’s real.