John R. Copeland wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message ...

I wouldn't say that a bad enginer necessarily makes a good manager, but
most good engineering managers weren't top 10% engineers. I'd say that
are in the above average category, however. Often the top 10% engineers
just can't step back from the details and let others do the work as they
always feel, may rightfully, that they can do it better. Being a good
manager means letting others do the work even if you can do it better.

Matt



Matt, you understand an important point.
I used to promise my engineers I wouldn't ask them to do anything
that I couldn't do.
But I also told them I expected them to be more efficient than I could be
at doing those tasks, because my skills were rusty.
Our teams were very successful.
---JRC---


Well, I use "wouldn't" where you use "couldn't" above. :-)

Seriously, I was a pretty good engineer when I was working on the front
lines, but I now consider my job as a manager to be hiring people who
are better than me. If I could do anything that any of the 32 people
who work for me can do, then I don't have a very capable group...


Matt