Why your boss doesn't seem to care about your tech career anymore
Tech managers are increasingly struggling to provide career coaching to their teams due to the 'Great Flattening' and the pressure to integrate AI into workflows. Many managers are now forced to prioritize tactical output over long-term employee development.
Why it matters
This shift signals a potential decline in mentorship and professional growth opportunities within the rapidly evolving tech sector.
The fast pace of AI and overseeing bigger teams means managers don't always have as much time for things like career coaching. Maskot/Getty Images These days, tech managers are often juggling bigger teams and coding work themselves. That can leave less one-on-one time for career coaching with direct reports. "It's not managing the human, it's managing the work," said one CEO. "And it's much more sink or swim." If you work in tech, your manager might still care about your career. They just might not have enough time to do much about it. Across tech, the Great Flattening has meant fewer managers overseeing larger teams and racing to keep up as the industry remakes itself around AI. The result can be less time for managerial work that doesn't produce an immediately visible result: coaching employees to help them figure out where their careers are going.
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