What’s My Real Contribution, Anyway?

When I was a young engineer, I managed projects.

I saw things happen.

Concrete moved, structures rose, plans became reality.

Every progress?

I knew exactly where I made it happen.

Then I got promoted.

I started managing people.

And suddenly…

Everyone was doing the work.

And me?

I was just… talking about it.

Reviewing. Coordinating. Calming. Pushing. Holding things together.

And in the middle of all that –

one small, stubborn question kept whispering:

“What am I actually contributing?”

“Is anything happening because of me?”

Because let’s be honest –

Managers don’t really do anything, right?

We just… make things happen.

And that hurt.

For a while.

I carried that question inside, quietly.

Outside, I looked like a leader.

Inside, I felt… replaceable.

But over time, something shifted.

Not because reality changed – but because my perspective did.

I began to notice:

The goals I had set – were the ones moving forward.

The tone I brought – echoed through the team.

The effort I invested – enabled everyone else’s effort.

I didn’t do the work.

But it happened – because of me.

⸻

Management isn’t about ticking off tasks.

It’s about setting direction, holding the space, and moving things forward.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “What am I even worth here?” –

just know: it means you’re a manager who feels.

And not just performs.