How to Set Expectations for Your Software Engineering Managers

After hiring the right engineering manager(s) at your company, the next step is empowering them with the tools and information necessary for their success. A key part of this process is setting well-defined expectations to help your engineering managers grow in their roles.

Understandably, setting expectations for engineering managers isn’t a walk in the park. C-level executives often battle with questions such as: How should such expectations look like? Who sets them? How should I go about this process?

To answer these questions, we asked several experienced engineering managers and C-level executives for advice regarding setting expectations for engineering managers. Here’s what they said:

1. Define your company’s goals first
2. Understand the role of the software engineering manager
3. Set standard performance metrics for your engineering managers
4. Establish clear communication guidelines
5. Establish a transparent organizational process and lead by example

Read on for more details on learning how to set expectations for your software engineering managers and help them grow in their roles!