[buro9]

I think in ratios.

How many frontend engineers to backend?

How many engineering managers to ICs?

How many technical writers to (all) engineers?

How many product managers to (all) engineers?

And I try and keep the ratios finely tuned to have the greatest impact but the least meddling, the least micromanagement.

What the numbers for these ratios are is likely specific to your organisation, but if you detect meddling or too much of the "how" not coming from the engineers themselves, change the ratios, increase engineers per people or product manager, make it so that they cannot do this and instead have to prioritise what they get involved in, to step back from the micro, and to cede autonomy on how back to the engineers.

[phendrenad2]

This is the only sand way to go. It's surprising how many places just don't have PMs, or have far too many PMs (also applies to QA, junior engineers, senior engineers, architects, HR personnel, Vice Presidents, salespeople, etc.)