My journey into a leadership role is probably similar to a lot of other people. I started out doing the work and as my experience grew I took on more scope. Soon I was doing more indirect work through guidance and design, and eventually I graduated to being responsible for not just my work but the work of a team. This natural growth inevitably means less time doing hands on building. It's easy to lose touch with your fundamentals in these circumstances, the reason you started doing what you're doing. I have always been a creator. My favorite thing to do with my spare time is to spend a night working with a new technology or side project.
As I've continued to grow in my career, the inevitable tug of other responsibilities has pulled me away from tinker time. In a way, it's career growing pains. I'm a big boy now and sometimes that means doing the less fun things. But that's a hard truth to deal with when your heart is in the craft.
This last year I have done a lot of soul searching. My role has continued to become multi-faceted and I've had to learn how to spend time on other parts of the business and engineering organization. In many ways, being pulled away from engineering, the thing that I love so much, has been an very draining experience. It's led me to wonder if I can be a good leader for the long haul.
So where does that leave somebody like me? For those of us who are builders at heart, who love and miss the act of creation, what do we do?
I don't necessarily have the answer but I think I have one answer which has helped me immensely, both emotionally and spiritually. Keep learning. Keep getting better. Even though you have new responsibilities, continue to hone your craft. Stay close to it. Read books. Practice. Build. Don't let your passion die.
This last year I've decided that in order to become an exceptional engineering leader I need to stay an exceptional engineer. I've decided to put in the hours, because it's what I love.
As strange as it sounds, simply deciding to continue to learn has created an enormous amount of energy for me. This means that I spend a little less time watching TV and a little more time building. I've also gotten into the habit of reading a technical book before bed. I expected it to knock me out in the first 5 minutes but as it turns out I weirdly find myself unable to stop turning the pages.
In the end, I think this is a lesson in following your passion. It has taken me a few years in a leadership role to learn this lesson, but it finally hit me. I've been much happier since renewing my focus on the work I love. It's oddly liberating, I'd recommend it.