The best managers I've worked with unblock ICs, and defend from company-wide politics. Maybe set direction at a team level. Ordering smart, creative people around just obliterates 99% of their value.

Managers are also like movie directors. I’ve been on projects where smart people can focus on the wrong parts of a project. Sometimes it takes one person to orchestrate the band, hone in one what is the true impactful work. Shepard the sheep through to the finish line, especially if they are headed in an ambiguous direction.

Now, what’s all that got to do with having butts in a seat that you can physically see? Jack shit really.

I think what you are talking about with the former and technical leads and product owners, not typical people managers. There is overlap, as it gets fuzzy, but most managers I've experienced have terrible technical insights and are instead an active blocker to great results.

I think it depends on what you want. I don't spend a lot of time dealing with my manager. He leaves me alone. But he also deals with all the stuff coming down from above so my job is just coding. To me that is a win as I don't want to have to deal with anything on his schedule.

> favorite behavior of managers is to leave you alone. But what’s their use then?

To allow you to be left alone to be happy and productive.

With an ineffective manager, you'll be bombarded with all the interruptions and BS from the layers above and every side. With a great manager you won't be bothered by any of this, leaving you to be happy and productive.