[bilvar]

In my experience engineering managers have been just exception handlers, not leaders. If they can handle the exception by finding the right person to delegate to its fine, otherwise they rethrow so that that it bubbles up and the next level of management can catch it.

Generally, they never made any real decisions or have any real vision to inspire with and execute.

[withinboredom]

Are you on a team with strong personalities that actually lead? If so, then that manager is probably a bug in their ear about what the business wants. I love and hate managing those types of team because it is literally like herding cats. When they are going in the right direction, it is a blast. When they disagree with you, it can be painful. Especially if you have no real teeth to provide negative feedback.

Leading a team when everyone is just "there for a paycheck" is much easier, but not as much fun. You basically just need to make sure all the tickets are lined up and everyone is working on the right things.