←back to thread

Google has eliminated 35% of managers overseeing small teams in past year

(www.cnbc.com)
574 points frays | 3 comments | 27 Aug 25 21:16 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
AnotherGoodName ◴[27 Aug 25 22:01 UTC] No.45045883[source]▶
This was called the TLM role at google. Technical Lead/Manager. You were expected to code and manage a couple of more junior engineers.

It’s part of an effort to have dedicated managers and dedicated engineers instead of hybrid roles.

This is being sold as an efficiency win for the sake of the stock price but it’s really just moved a few people around with the TLMs now 100% focused on programming.

replies(15): >>45045891 #>>45046165 #>>45046216 #>>45046446 #>>45046469 #>>45046545 #>>45046627 #>>45046811 #>>45047198 #>>45047268 #>>45048052 #>>45048255 #>>45048293 #>>45048558 #>>45049014 #
floren ◴[27 Aug 25 22:03 UTC] No.45045891[source]▶
Do you have any opinion on the success/value of the TLM role?
replies(13): >>45045915 #>>45045917 #>>45046023 #>>45046086 #>>45046098 #>>45046104 #>>45046117 #>>45046164 #>>45046202 #>>45046279 #>>45046284 #>>45046321 #>>45046549 #
1. tibbar ◴[27 Aug 25 22:06 UTC] No.45045915[source]▶
Not OP, but I think TLM works best when it's a transitional role. You have someone you want to groom into a full-time manager, and you have a team that you plan to grow over time. TLM itself is not that efficient, but can lead to strong full-time managers who understand the team really well and had time to grow into the role.
replies(2): >>45046512 #>>45049056 #
2. ◴[27 Aug 25 23:22 UTC] No.45046512[source]▶
3. kelnos ◴[28 Aug 25 06:25 UTC] No.45049056[source]▶
I was thinking this too. Tech lead/developer and manager are two completely different jobs. I can see TLM as a useful transitional thing, while the person is being trained or mentored at being a manager (and hopefully not just thrown into the deep end). But 6 months, max 12, I think. Otherwise it just becomes a role where someone has two jobs and ends up overworked.