No Need for Managers?

I started working as a software developer about 25 years ago. It was at a time when the industry was still in its early stages, and there were far fewer management layers than there are now. I was working as part of a small team, and we were all on the same level. We worked together, we helped each other, and we made decisions together. It was a great experience, and I loved it.

But then, as the industry grew and companies got bigger, things changed. More and more management layers were introduced, and suddenly I didn’t feel so connected to my team anymore. I felt like I was just a cog in a machine, and my opinions and ideas didn’t seem to matter anymore. The managers who were supposed to be leading us just seemed to be out for themselves, and I started to really dislike them.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some good managers out there. But in my experience, they are the exception rather than the rule. And I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t like working with managers. I’d much rather work with a team of equals, where everyone is on the same level and we can all make decisions together. 

What do you think? Do you like working with managers, or do you prefer a more egalitarian approach?