From developer to manager: Haube goes management
02. Apr 2025
For many, the step into management is a significant milestone in their professional career. For Christian H., who has been working at empiriecom since 2009, this step was an exciting challenge - and one that he mastered with a great deal of support and commitment.
Reading time: 3 minutes
The path to management
Regular discussions with Ralf help him to openly address any issues that arise. The close cooperation within the management team was and is another success factor for him in finding his feet in his new role. Despite intensive preparation, he sees his new position as an ongoing learning process in which he is still developing.
From colleague to manager
One of the biggest challenges in Christian's new role was the change in perspective: many of the employees who now report to him were previously long-standing colleagues at eye level. However, this potential for conflict did not materialize in his case. Instead, his promotion was received positively by his team. They appreciate that he comes from their own ranks and therefore understands the day-to-day challenges of a software developer.
His technical expertise from his previous role gives him credibility in decision-making processes. He was particularly touched by the feedback from his employees: In his first employee feedback meeting, he received a particularly high score on the topic of trust - a key element of his management philosophy.
Employee focus as a central element
In addition to strategic issues, his main focus is on the further development of his team. Regular development meetings and open discussions are an integral part of his work. He specifies a time corridor, but the frequency is the responsibility of the employees.
His unusual questions, which he likes to include in conversations to encourage a change of perspective, are particularly exciting:
- "If you had to spend a day in my role, what would be the first thing you would do?"
- "What decision would you make if you were sure you wouldn't fail?"
These questions not only help him to generate new ideas, but also to recognize current challenges and moods within the team at an early stage.
Work-life balance and challenges
Despite the challenges and the increased workload, Christian finds his new role very rewarding. He remains involved in technical topics and also supports sales, which often involves traveling. To maintain a healthy balance, he consciously sets boundaries, blocks out time for sports and uses the remote option to combine work and family in the best possible way.
One of the biggest challenges for him remains prioritizing issues. However, employee concerns are always his top priority.
Fazit: Kein Zurück
After a year in management, Christian's assessment is consistently positive. Even though the job is demanding and at times more strenuous than his previous position, he doesn't regret his decision for a second. He is particularly pleased that his move has not only meant a positive development for himself, but also for his team. His goal remains clear: to continue to drive empiriecom forward as the best possible e-commerce service provider for the Baur Group.
