[tomca32]

It's not, at least not from my experience, but you have to be vocal about what you want.

I was offered a managerial position multiple times and declined it every time saying that it would be a loss for both myself and the company. I'm way more useful in an individual contributor role and a better way to leverage my experience would be to be a cross-team IC and help on the more demanding projects/initiatives.

Eventually, after being vocal about it for a while and actively helping other teams with parts of the system they didn't have experience with, that's what I got. The bad part is that most challenging work often ends up in my lap. The good part is that most challenging work ends up in my lap.

[sarkhan]

Eeh, at some point, a nepotic Manager will move resources around in a way that an IC (should be manager) will be banging head on the railing with a question why am I not calling the shots.

[spydum]

and often thats when you know it's time to look for a new manager (inside or outside). Most folks with competency to solve hard problems have options

[ornornor]

Unless this kind of dysfunctional management style burns you out. The you’re dying a little every day at work and don’t have the energy or ability to look for other work.

I’ve seen this happen so many times in my career it’s not even funny.