Some people are leaving management to return to IC roles. I'd like your opinions on this trend because I am divided about it.

Frustrated by lack of growth and promotion, under pressure to flatten orgs, and told that hands on AI skills are essential, I hear from many managers who are considering switching to IC roles.

Some company and business leaders are advocating this change, but I am unsure if that is really great advice or if it is trendy and self-serving. Right now there is great popularity behind a trend to flatten organizations. This trend is cyclical and at least in the past has come and gone at various times.

Are leaders recommending the IC path because it helps them flatten the org, or do they really see a benefit for the employee, not just themselves?

There is no doubt that getting hands on with emerging AI tools is a good idea. AI is the disruptive technology of this generation.

There is also no doubt that the profession of managing humans will be durable. Groups of humans have had people in coordinating hierarchies back throughout all human history. This trend is unlikely to evaporate even with AI.

I can argue either side of this change - that clinging to an outdated concept of a management career path is the worst kind of naive hope, and that jumping into an IC role without any actual plan for where that ends up is a blind gamble.

Among you readers are people who have already gone to IC roles, people considering it, and people who will never do it.

What are your perspectives and insights on this?

Let's learn from each other, because the "right answer" is unclear.

I look forward to your comments.