Atlassian2023
Returning to IC from management
Eighteen months into management at Atlassian, I asked to go back to IC.
The situation
Eighteen months as Design Manager at Atlassian. Team was performing, regulated industries motion was established, TIP scores were high.
The obvious move
Stay on the management track. It's the obvious progression.
What I did instead
Asked to return to IC. Not because management wasn't working. Because I missed the daily craft, and I wanted to spend the next two years on the tools rather than next to them.
What happened
Within months of returning to IC, I was promoted to Lead Product Designer. The capstone of the story: returned at the highest level, immediately performed at it.