--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The job of the average manager requires a…" description: "\"The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png" --- # The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus… ![“The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not shift focus more often than every few hours.” quote by Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png) > “The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not shift focus more often than every few hours.” [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Managers must constantly reorient priorities, while developers need sustained focus to produce coherent code; the contrast underscores different cognitive demands. **In simple terms:** Managers juggle tasks; developers need deep focus. Key Takeaway Different roles require distinct attention patterns. Themes productivity cognitive load software development management Mood analytical pragmatic Type observational advisory When to use this quote - project planning sessions - coding sprints - daily stand‑ups Key Concepts attention switching flow state Practical Applications - Structure work blocks to protect developer focus - Use task‑batching tools for managers Questions to Reflect On - How can teams balance the need for agility with the need for deep work? - What policies help protect developers’ concentration without hindering manager responsiveness? A Different Perspective Over‑generalizing may ignore hybrid roles where both rapid switching and deep focus are needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Developers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developers/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Software engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software-engineering/) [Staffing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staffing/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [To be a manager requires more than a title, a big office, and other outward symbols of rank. It requires competence and performance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/to-be-a-manager-requires-more-than-a-title-a-big-office-and-other/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In software, the chain isn't as strong as its weakest link; it's as weak as all the weak links multiplied together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/in-software-the-chain-isn-t-as-strong-as-its-weakest-link-it-s-as/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Software projects fail for one of two general reasons: the project team lacks the knowledge to conduct a software project successfully, or the project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/software-projects-fail-for-one-of-two-general-reasons-the-project/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Even when you have skilled, motivated, hard-working people, the wrong team structure can undercut their efforts instead of catapulting them to success. A poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/even-when-you-have-skilled-motivated-hard-working-people-the-wrong/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“Where your attention lies is where your life thrives. Shift your focus if you're unsatisfied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyconis-d-allison-ty/where-your-attention-lies-is-where-your-life-thrives-shift-your-focus/) Tyconis D. Allison Ty > [Shift the focus from what you want to do, to how you want to be... how you want to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/shift-the-focus-from-what-you-want-to-do-to-how-you-want-to-be-how/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [Do not shift your focus from serving others to focusing exclusively on school, work, or social activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/do-not-shift-your-focus-from-serving-others-to-focusing-exclusively/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [As soon as you become aware that something is not working, immediately shift your focus to the desired result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/as-soon-as-you-become-aware-that-something-is-not-working-immediately/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/successful-people-become-great-leaders-when-they-learn-to-shift-the/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [If you shift your focus from yourself to others, extend your concern to others, and cultivate the thought of caring for the well being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-shift-your-focus-from-yourself-to-others-extend-your-concern/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This world isn't perfect. That means it isn't perfectly good; but it isn't perfectly bad, either. The ease comes with the hardship. Shift the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/this-world-isn-t-perfect-that-means-it-isn-t-perfectly-good-but-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“that the secret to saying No was to shift the focus and learn how to say Yes more slowly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bungay-stanier/that-the-secret-to-saying-no-was-to-shift-the-focus-and-learn-how-to/) [Michael Bungay Stanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bungay-stanier/) > [“The more you focus on the closed door, the more you will miss out on the better door that awaits you on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-more-you-focus-on-the-closed-door-the-more-you-will-miss-out-on/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [One of the most effective ways to overcome anxiety is to try to shift the focus of attention away from self and toward others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/one-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-overcome-anxiety-is-to-try-to-shift/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Shift your focus from controlling others to creating your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/shift-your-focus-from-controlling-others-to-creating-your-own/) Senoraroy ## More by Steve McConnell > [“it's done by creating 25 times as many dirty tests”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/it-s-done-by-creating-25-times-as-many-dirty-tests/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“the road to programming hell is paved with global variables,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-road-to-programming-hell-is-paved-with-global-variables/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“usually more time is spent in making good-looking presentation slides than in improving the quality of the software.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/usually-more-time-is-spent-in-making-good-looking-presentation-slides/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [It's hard enough to find an error in your code when you're looking for it; it's even harder when you've assumed your code is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/it-s-hard-enough-to-find-an-error-in-your-code-when-you-re-looking/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“the error rate in manual testing is comparable to the bug rate in the code being tested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-error-rate-in-manual-testing-is-comparable-to-the-bug-rate-in-the/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“few people can understand more than three levels of nested ifs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/few-people-can-understand-more-than-three-levels-of-nested-ifs/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [ “\[...\] you shouldn't be uneasy about any parts of the architecture. It shouldn't contain anything just to please the boss. It shouldn't contain anything… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/you-shouldn-t-be-uneasy-about-any-parts-of-the-architecture-it/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [It's OK to figure out murder mysteries, but you shouldn't need to figure out code. You should be able to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/it-s-ok-to-figure-out-murder-mysteries-but-you-shouldn-t-need-to/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“Programmers working with high-level languages achieve better productivity and quality than those working with lower-level languages. Languages such as C++, Java, Smalltalk, and Visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programmers-working-with-high-level-languages-achieve-better/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [The trouble with quick and dirty is that dirty remains long after quick has been forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-trouble-with-quick-and-dirty-is-that-dirty-remains-long-after/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [“Be sure that the names you choose favor read-time convenience over write-time convenience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/be-sure-that-the-names-you-choose-favor-read-time-convenience-over/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Even when you have skilled, motivated, hard-working people, the wrong team structure can undercut their efforts instead of catapulting them to success. A poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/even-when-you-have-skilled-motivated-hard-working-people-the-wrong/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [A typical software project can present more opportunities to learn from mistakes than some people get in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/a-typical-software-project-can-present-more-opportunities-to-learn/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [The default movement on a software project should be in the direction of taking elements of the software away to make it simpler rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-default-movement-on-a-software-project-should-be-in-the-direction/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) [Explore all 57 Steve McConnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) ## More Average quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) Buck Martinez > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/) [Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/) > [I really focus more to hit for average, just try to put the ball in play as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-really-focus-more-to-hit-for-average-just-try-to-put-the-ball-in/) [Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/) > [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/) [Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I feel like what motivates me is what would motivate the regular average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-feel-like-what-motivates-me-is-what-would-motivate-the-regular/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [We're trying to do something so that when the average person uses Pinterest, it has to make the service better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-re-trying-to-do-something-so-that-when-the-average-person-uses/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) Browse all 2,816 Average quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not shift focus more often than every few hours.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve McConnell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires-a-shift-in-focus-every-few/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Average" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires-a-shift-in-focus-every-few/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/steve-mcconnell-11957_average_the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires_99467.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software…” — Steve McConnell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve McConnell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The job of the average manager...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires-a-shift-in-focus-every-few/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/the-job-of-the-average-manager-requires-a-shift-in-focus-every-few/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```