EARLY IN MY CAREER, my team had a software engineer who shipped a quarter's worth of stories in a sprint, refactored the build pipeline on a Friday afternoon out of boredom, and led a last-minute leadership initiative while their other projects compiled.
We all knew the behaviors. They were "10x." While some of us aspired to match their contributions, a few of us quietly resented it.
Online threads debate whether the mythical 10x engineer is real. Defenders point to leverage and uninterrupted focus, while skeptics point to burnout, unused products, and the rest of the team cleaning their commits at 2 AM.
Both are right enough to keep the argument alive, and the debate continues.
What Does 5x Mean?
NOW I SIT in the manager's seat. Years of being an engineering manager have given me a different perspective. While the 10x engineer is measured by getting things done, the 5x manager is measured by multiplying the team’s output through hiring, delegation, conflict, praise, and delivery.
They hire well. While a 10x engineer ships ten engineers' worth of work, a 5x manager hires the next ten. The work compounds: one good hire pays for the loop, but one bad one taxes the team for years.
They delegate ruthlessly. A 10x engineer can do it all themselves, while a 5x manager refuses to. They paint the picture of being done, hand it to a lead, and manage the expectations. The instinct to grab the keyboard is the hardest one to retire.
They resolve conflict in the open. A 10x engineer reroutes around the difficult teammate, whereas a 5x manager sits in the room and identifies what is happening. The tough conversations are uncomfortable, but avoidance is more expensive.
They decide with incomplete information. A 10x engineer already has agents writing the code; they have the solution, but a 5x manager rarely has the answer. Instead, managers have a deadline. They make the call, explain the why to the team, and own the consequences without surprises.
They praise on the record. The work itself fuels a 10x engineer. A 5x manager is fueled by catching others doing the right thing and saying it out loud, in writing, or in front of the org. The 5x part is doing it five times more often than feels natural.
Dialing In the Calendar
IN THE END, engineering managers are accountable for delivery. But are these the only qualities of a 5x manager?
Perhaps not always. The 5x manager is the person who, at 10 AM on a Tuesday, opens their calendar and sees five meetings stacked on the same row. A staff sync. A roadmap review. A one-on-one. An incident bridge they cannot move. A panel interview that the manager agreed to last week. All starting at the same minute. All requiring their attention.
The 5x manager must pick one meeting, send regrets to the other four, and promise to read the compounding minute notes. Then, they join a virtual room, smile, and ask, "What did I miss?"
And that was me, last week. So, perhaps there are 10x managers out there, after all.
Top comments (0)