Advice for time management as a manager

Ben Kuhn provides practical time management strategies for new managers: having accurate expectations (expect 10-20% less individual output, treat engineering work as 'bonus', choose 'important but not urgent' work), prioritizing ruthlessly (critical deadlines, work that increases team's future bandwidth, consistent one-on-ones), delegating effectively by 'negotiating how hands-on to be' with team members based on their 'task-relevant maturity' and assigning stretch projects for growth, managing overwhelm through a 5-step checklist (schedule triage meeting, list all tasks, delegate what possible, assess workload realistically, communicate what won't get done), and creating focused time by batching distractions and scheduling meetings back-to-back to preserve deep work time. Engineering leaders will learn the crucial shift from individual contributor mindset to team leadership approach that prioritizes team output over personal productivity.