[jeffyang]

This is a great comment and I'm replying because I want to build on top of it.

Completely agree that the first priority is understanding your why and having a conversation with your manager.

After that, if you feel good about both paths, go ahead and try the managerial path. You've already experienced being an IC, why not experience management and see if you truly like it? As mentioned, it's easy to go back to being an IC and your management experience can only be helpful. You can set a timeline where you re-evaluate your decision so you don't get "stuck" by accident.

Lastly, the skills above like hard conversations are important, but you don't need to have the skills now. Right now you need to accept that you are okay with those being your reality and commit to learning the skills and not be that manager who doesn't tell you the truth and then you find out the hard way later on.