- As layoffs persist and companies lean into "tiny teams," the manager role is being redefined.
- Companies like Coinbase and Block want managers to act as "player-coaches."
- Should managers only manage? Or also do their own work? Take our survey below.
The pressure is on for managers in the era of AI-driven layoffs.
In a letter to staff on Tuesday announcing cuts, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said that the company will have "no pure managers."
"Every leader at Coinbase must also be a strong and active individual contributor. Managers should be like player-coaches, getting their hands dirty alongside their teams," Armstrong wrote.
The concept of managers taking on the role of "player-coaches" has been gaining traction, especially as companies lean into AI. Meta has begun rebranding some managers as "org leads," while Block has embraced the "player-coach" terminology.
Meanwhile, managers are responsible for an increasing number of reports. Gallup data published in January revealed that the average number of reports per manager has increased from 10.9 in 2024 to 12.1 in 2025.
We want to hear what you think. Should managers take on individual contributor work, or only focus on overseeing teams? Take the survey below:
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