Have you ever come across a developer who’s a genius when it comes to coding, but a disaster when it comes to managing a team or working with others? I recently stumbled upon a Reddit post that got me thinking about this phenomenon.
The post talked about a brilliant developer who couldn’t identify good candidates. They would dismiss people based on superficial things on their resume, like the college they attended or the number of years of experience. But is this kind of behavior more common than we think?
I’ve seen it happen before, where a developer is so focused on the technical aspects of a project that they forget about the human side of things. They might be excellent at writing code, but they struggle to communicate with their team, or they’re too blunt and hurt people’s feelings.
It’s almost as if their technical brilliance is a curse in disguise. They’re so used to being the smartest person in the room that they forget how to work with others, or they’re not interested in learning how to manage people.
But being a good manager or team player is not just about being nice or liking people. It’s about being able to work with different personalities, being able to give and receive feedback, and being able to adapt to changing circumstances.
So, what can we do to prevent brilliant developers from failing as managers? One approach is to provide them with training and mentorship, so they can develop their soft skills and learn how to work with others effectively.
Another approach is to recognize that being a good developer and being a good manager are two different skill sets, and it’s okay if someone excels in one area but not the other.
What do you think? Have you seen a brilliant developer struggle as a manager or team player? Share your experiences in the comments below!