# Engineering managers who build are pulling ahead > Source: > Published: 2026-08-13 07:41:44+00:00 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes **Key takeaways:** - Engineering managers now need **hands-on building experience** to lead effectively. - Taste (and the ability to spot AI slop) has become **the critical review skill**. - The old **speed-vs-quality tradeoff** is disappearing, so quality is no longer the cost of moving fast. When the [AI revolution](https://leaddev.com/ai/best-ai-coding-assistants) is discussed, the headlines are usually focused on [productivity gains](https://leaddev.com/ai/the-struggle-to-prove-ai-productivity-gains) for writing code, changes in hiring engineers, and the challenges faced by non-technical team members. The impact on engineering managers is rarely discussed widely. The skills required to be an [effective manager](https://leaddev.com/career-development/the-reality-of-being-an-engineering-manager) are now completely different from what they were even a year ago.