2b) Start coding again because your superiors promote you to management but treat you like you’re still an IC and ask why you haven’t contributed any points to the latest sprint while actively shutting you out of the kinds of discussions and decisions an EM would be making in most other orgs—-while somehow simultaneously asking you to also be the bearer of frequently changing and poorly communicated business priorities for your subordinates
Yes it’s happened to me, yes I’m a bit bitter about it, yes I’m looking for a new job because of it
Heh, I also fell into this trap once. (I no longer work there.)
Just as much coding work as before, plus becoming the interface between the developers and the actual management, with no pay raise of course. Not able to change anything, but regularly reminded that I am responsible for the results.
It means "individual contributor" , and implies you don't have any reports. As opposed to "tech lead" or "player-coach" (currently in vogue) which implies you are supposed to be effective as a technical contribute but also have a formal manager relationship with at least one person. Let a lone a classic manager who doesn't do much or any direct contribution technically.
There is some confounding in this thread of manager-of-people roles and manager-of-things roles, which also causes confusion.
Yes it’s happened to me, yes I’m a bit bitter about it, yes I’m looking for a new job because of it