As a Software Engineering Manager, striking the right balance between hands-on technical work and leadership has always been a personal challenge. An interesting article about staying technical in management in one of HybridHacker’s newsletters reflects this shared struggle in our industry (https://hybridhacker.email/p/staying-technical-as-an-engineering-manger)

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, experienced managers suggest that the ideal percentage of time spent coding typically falls between 20-40% of your overall workload.

The “correct” percentage isn’t fixed but adapts to team needs and project requirements. The primary responsibility is ensuring that the team operates optimally, meaning leadership duties should take precedence over coding activities.

Several factors can influence the coding time:
👥 Team Size: Larger teams may require less coding and more coordination.
🎓 Team Experience: Junior teams might need more technical guidance.
🏗️ Project Phase: Coding involvement may fluctuate based on the project stage.
🏢 Organizational Expectations: Company-specific requirements for managers’ coding involvement.

Maintaining some coding involvement can be beneficial:
💻 Keeps you technically relevant for informed decisions.
🔍 Helps understand team challenges firsthand.
🤝 Maintains credibility with your team.

It’s good to remember that the primary value for an Engineering Manager comes from leadership:
📈 The impact is measured by team output, not individual contributions.
🚧 Too much coding can limit upward growth.
🗣️ The role should focus on communication and facilitation, not a direct contribution to work.

To strike the right balance:
✅ Prioritize leadership responsibilities.
🛠️ Code in non-critical path areas.
🎯 Focus on high-impact coding tasks.
🔄 Regularly reassess time allocation.

As you progress in your managerial career, it’s natural for coding time to decrease. The ability to enable and empower the team is paramount.
While the exact percentage may vary, aiming for 20-40% of your time on coding activities is a good starting point for many Engineering Managers.