How “Progression Syndrome” Can All Too Easily Lead To Management
It’s an avoidable trap, but far too many software engineers are caught by it.
I’ve theorised a new kind of syndrome within the grand game of software engineering that is similar to the already known to be widespread Imposter Syndrome and I’m going to officially christen it “Progression Syndrome”.
In order to define the condition successfully I’m going to have to work through the life cycle of a progressive software engineer as they sign up for the grand game and play out their moves during their career¹, so bear with me for a short time.
Timeline of Terror
As a neophyte engineer you join the grand game from either a childhood interest in computing, a fascination of how things actually work instead of being told how they work, or an unusually strong desire to change the world through the tapping of plastic keys in a dark room for hours on end.
These are, of course, excellent motivational reasons and far better than joining the game — for instance — to make money, accrue power and status, or to enhance your social skills.
As the aforementioned neophyte engineer you most likely came equipped with some fundamentals (one would hope, and not a collection of YouTube videos listed on your CV²) from a…
