5 Leadership Lessons as Product Design Manager

During a period of transition at GitLab, the author assumed the role of acting Product Design Manager for CI/CD after their manager left, while also being promoted to Staff Product Designer. This dual responsibility required balancing leadership duties with individual contributions, leading to an understanding that growth often involves discomfort and new challenges. The author focused on defining success in their new role, managing schedules to avoid burnout, and embracing the facilitative nature of management as opposed to direct involvement in design tasks. They learned the importance of being a supportive leader, which involved fostering team relationships and prioritizing team achievements over individual accomplishments. The experience highlighted the distinct differences between individual contributor and managerial roles, emphasizing that management requires redefining personal metrics of success and involves a different kind of satisfaction derived from enabling others' growth. The author shared their journey and insights to provide guidance to those considering a transition into management, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of the role and expressing gratitude for the opportunities provided by GitLab.

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