BrandGhost
More Experience, More Overwhelmed - Dev Leader Weekly 114

TL; DR:


More Experience → More Overwhelm

It's not uncommon for software developers to start to feel more overwhelmed in their day-to-day work as they gain more and more seniority. While it's still not common with folks I talk to, I have heard from more and more that they've reached a level where they're not interested in more responsibility -- EXACTLY because of this.

Some developers go from being solid individual contributors to being promoted into senior+ roles -- and suddenly, what used to be exciting challenges now feels like unending pressure. The work hasn’t gotten easier. The expectations have skyrocketed. And many end up quietly wondering: "Why do I feel like I’m doing worse even though I’ve technically leveled up?"

Let's talk through what's going on and how to navigate it.

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