Bad Design Managers

Explores how IC designers often become managers without proper training, leading to two common failure modes: staying too hands-on or over-delegating. Bad design managers tend to prioritize their own portfolio, ignore team growth, dismiss people issues, and misuse authority. Good design managers focus on five key responsibilities: providing meaningful work, setting quality standards, protecting team focus, giving clear feedback, and creating personalized growth paths. Organizations can improve outcomes by building strong IC career ladders, offering structured management training, running practice management opportunities, and using regular surveys to measure team satisfaction.