AI Drives Managers to Juggle Coding and Coaching, Shrinking Career Guidance

Across the technology sector, AI-enabled productivity gains have led to broader managerial spans, a trend dubbed the Great Flattening. Leaders including Paddy Lambros of Dex and Alex Bouaziz of Deel observe that managers now spend most of their day coding and attending meetings, treating work as a tactical, transactional activity rather than a pastoral one. This shift reduces the time available for coaching and strategic career discussions, as illustrated by Mitchell Kosowski, who oversees about 20 engineers while coding most of his day.

Companies like Dex are allowing senior talent to remain individual contributors instead of moving into management, while Deel is increasing the typical number of direct reports per manager. Scott Stevenson of Spellbook adds that on-the-fly feedback has replaced regular one-on-ones, though he still values in-person conversations and formal reviews to keep career development visible.