[valleyjo]

I’ve seen this happen even within the same (large) company. Someone is a director level who has maybe 100 reports. The entire product gets cut. The IC’a find other jobs within the company. There are only so many Director level positions around and many of them are achieved organically. The ex-director then goes somewhere else as a regular engineering manager unlikely to ever have such a position again.

[scarface74]

Three of my former managers “self demoted” to an IC because they didn’t really enjoy management. Including one of my former managers who is in his late 50s who self demoted after his kids graduated. Now he’s a full stack React/C#/Azure developer and said he threatened to quit his job when they tried to promote him.

[erichurkman]

You need a path of self-demotion otherwise the only route to fixing a misplaced promotion is by firing or quitting.

[pm90]

Yeah this is pretty common in most large enterprises. If your company is not in a hyper-growth stage (i.e. its a cash cow) then upper management positions become a game of musical chairs and political infighting as some leaders try to promote "their" people to top positions to hold on to their power and status.

I guess there are certain folks who find this enjoyable. Personally I find it a massive waste of really good talent and perhaps the single biggest reason why I enjoy the dynamism of the SV startup ecosystem even if I don't directly participate in it.

[hk-mars]

Yes, this situation also make uncomfortable. My company needs me to create new features and design implement the framework, but those managers always get involved with me. I known I can create more technical new features as competitive-advantages for the company at this stage.

[TuringNYC]

That sounds like a liquidity problem (not enough positions opening up, and opening up infrequently) rather than a qualification problem (not qualified for director positions elsewhere.) Presumably, if the ex-director waits long enough they may find another director position (or not...)