The Manager's Path
A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change
by Camille Fournier · first published 2017
83% recommend12% neutral5% critical
Why HN recommends it
Short, pragmatic roadmap of the tech management career ladder, from tech lead through manager to director and CTO. Suits engineers weighing or starting the move into management, and managers of all levels.
Common criticism: Some say it describes the path but gives vague advice on how to actually do the job
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Managing people is difficult wherever you work. But in the tech industry, where management is also a technical discipline, the learning curve can be brutal—especially when there are few tools, texts, and frameworks to help you. In this practical guide, author Camille Fournier (tech lead turned CTO) takes you through each stage in the journey from engineer to technical manager. From mentoring interns to working with senior staff, you’ll get actionable advice for approaching various obstacles in your path. This book is ideal whether you’re a new manager, a mentor, or a more experienced leader
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Try "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier. http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920056843.do
on “Ask HN: Best book / resources on leadership, especially for tech teams?” ↗I suppose link compilations like this have some value some times. But if you clicked on it because you're new to EM and keen, here are a few books that are much more helpful IMO: - The Manager's Path, by Camille Fournier - An Elegant Puzzle, by Will Larson - Team Topologies, by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais - Thinking in Systems, by Donella Meadows - Also see: references cited in the above and…
on “Engineering Management” ↗Camille Fournier - The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change This is a great ressource to guide you through your journey from dev to team lead, senior team lead and even CTO. Pretty accurate description from…
on “Ask HN: Resources for transitioning from development to management?” ↗Not a blog, but if you haven't read the book The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier, I highly recommend it. Has eased my experience considerably, and it is very specifically targeted toward modern software development.
on “Ask HN: Blogs about Being CTO/Head of/Lead Dev?” ↗The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier does a good job covering the various steps from technical individual contributor all the way up through the ranks of management and looks at questions like when to stop getting involved…
on “Thriving on the Technical Leadership Path” ↗…leadership position. Have you started to train yourself as a lead / manager? A couple of resources I've found useful in the switch have been Manager Tools [0] (book, site, and podcast) as well as The Manager's Path [1]. While his shtick can be a bit thick at times, I enjoyed Extreme Ownership by Willink [2], if only because it codified a lot of thoughts I've had for a long time. I've worked with a lot of military…
on “Ask HN: How can I be a better team lead? (corporate)” ↗…long time to sink in there. [1] Of course, the exceptional people generally know it, and command matching salaries. As an aside (to this aside), I'm currently reading Camille Fournier's excellent "The Manager's Path", which is like a museum of management practises that I've never seen in Australia. [2] SafetyCulture is an exception to my "start global" thesis. They did start locally, then grow. I think this is because…
on “How Australian Tech Companies Can Think About Silicon Valley” ↗Read at least the first few chapters of Camille Fournier’s The Manager’s Path.
on “Ask HN: Advice for a new and inexperienced tech lead?” ↗Read The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
on “Ask HN: How to prepare for an Engineering Manager interview?” ↗Maybe read "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier[0]. It focuses a lot on the transition from being an engineer to going into management. [0]: https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Grow...
on “Ask HN: Just made Director, now what?” ↗…https://amzn.com/dp/B015VACHOK/ $13.99 2015;4+stars;153 reviews >killjoywashere: I like Lazlo Bock's book, Work Rules! https://amzn.com/dp/B00MEMMVB8/ $16.99 2015;4+stars;295 reviews >helper: Maybe read "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier. https://amzn.com/dp/B06XP3GJ7F/ $16.19 2017;4+stars;30 reviews >simonhamp: I'd highly recommend reading Radical Candor by Kim Scott. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KTIEFEE/ $12.99…
on “Ask HN: Developers who became engineering managers, how was the experience?” ↗…* Punished by Rewards, by Alfie Kohen * Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi I wrote about some of these ideas here [0] For a more traditional approach * High Output Management, by Andy Grove * The Manager's Path, by Camille Fournier * The Thing about Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz Not specifically about management, but in general, if you haven't read Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind", you should do that first.…
on “Ask HN: Favorite books on how to be a good manager?” ↗I highly recommend reading "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier. It's a great overview of the different things to consider while working your way up the ladder (specifically in engineering management). http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920056843.do
on “Ask HN: IT Directors and VP's – how do you manage your time and projects?” ↗Read The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier. It’s not just about managers, it’s also about tech leads.
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗…new job 2. Become and Effective Software Engineering Manager - a hands-on book for people transitioning to management, starting at a new company or looking to make more of an org-wide impact. 3. The Manager's Path - a short reference handbook for managers at all levels. 4. The Goal - written in the '80s, yet a timeless novel on what management is about, may that be a manager of a team, an organization or an industrial…
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗