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Ask Slashdot: Transitioning From Developer To Executive?

Posted by timothy on from the oh-just-grow-the-hair-it's-cool dept.

First time accepted submitter fivevibe writes "I'm about to switch from a position where I did hands on development to one where I will be building and managing technical team. I will be responsible for designing and implementing the company's overall tech strategy. I am excited about this move but also nervous. It will require a different focus than I had up to this point, different skills, and different orientation. What should I be learning, reading, thinking about in order to make this transition successfully and avoid growing pointy hair?"

3 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. learn? by polar+red · · Score: 5, Funny

    just buy a bullwhip. Easiest way to interact with us mere mortal programmers. And get a cat.

    --
    Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
  2. 3 easy steps... by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Funny

    1 - give yourself a major head injury, you need to go from a educated professional to a brain damaged "visionary" who has "forward thinking" and "Paradigm Shift"
    2 - buy a book on buzzwords and use them all wrong, typically in the wrong spots. "WE need to Empower the diversity of the SQL server! That way we can Achieve a Sea Change OF Spin up!"
    3 - learn how to golf.

    That is pretty much it.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Here are the 3 "R"s by tomhudson · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 1: Report to surgery to have 50% of your brain removed (half the time they'll manage to get the part that governs common sense and ethics and you won't be handicapped in your new roll by that thing called a "conscience").

    Step 2: Repeat "Knowing how to do the job isn't important - that's what we hire and fire people for" until you believe everyone under you is as replaceable as you are irreplacable.

    Step 3: Register for every ridiculous vendor hand-out, symposium, or whatever. Vendors are your new friends. The more business you can hand them, the bigger YOUR empire becomes, and the more new-found allies you have.

    The bonus:

    Step 4: Remember all those jokes you made about incompetent management, because it'll make it easier for you to pry the keyboards from your former co-workers dead bodies when you realize that they're now saying the same thing about you.