I’ve recently, and several times in the past, have attempted to secure management positions. It’s this years-long experience that was on of the major influencers of this blog and my writing project. Once again i’m on the cusp of a promotion, but the position though technically have direct reports.. I feel like it’s still a job that requires a professional individual contributor.
I started to think about this.. and I felt I needed to identify a delineation. If you are a manager who spends all their time managing people (and/or associated resources) then you aren’t a professional individual contributor. Your decisions can affect dozens, hundreds, and thousands of people.
If, on the other end of the spectrum, you mostly do your job but occasionally check with with others to make sure they are doing their jobs, then your still a PIC no matter what your title. So if you are a Director, a Supervisor, a Manager, or a Line Lead.. technically the argument can be made that your not a PIC. I would say that you still are.
It’s a grey area certainly.. but nothing really is black and white in life. I’m wondering if this is a good area for research.. if data is available. It has to be, what percentage of positions actually spend the majority of their time managing others.. what job types and industries are more vertically integrated where layers of actual management are needed…
It’s definitely food for thought.
Home of Peluso Presents 