Effective Upward Alignment with Managers is Essential

One of the more nuanced skills for Staff Engineers is aligning upward with their managers. Larson highlights the importance of communicating effectively to avoid unwanted surprises. “Never surprise your manager. Nothing destroys trust faster,” he asserts. The process involves open communication, proactively sharing updates, and understanding the broader organizational context. This strategy ensures not only smoother operations but also fosters a better working relationship with senior management, enhancing the credibility and reliability of the engineer.