This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a Microsoft employee in their 20s who works in an AI-related role. They discussed how their work experience relates to a trend some have called the “Great Flattening,” which refers to corporate efforts at companies like Google, Walmart, and Microsoft that have led to a reduction in middle managers or an increase in the number of direct reports per manager. The employee is based in the US and has been granted anonymity to speak candidly about their experience. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I started at Microsoft, I used to meet regularly with my manager. These meetings were helpful for getting used to the team and learning how things worked. Over time, though, we started meeting about half as often.
That shift wasn’t random. My manager started managing several additional people, which was part of a broader ramp-up in team size tied to the company’s growing AI data center needs. With more people to support, my manager has had less time for individual check-ins.
Around the same time, a colleague left, and I had to take on some additional responsibilities. My workload has been heavier over the past year, and I’ve tried not to pass on too much to junior employees.
Some days I feel a bit burned out, but I’ve had to manage: I don’t want anything to reflect poorly on my performance when review cycles come around. While having less time with my manager has had its challenges, it’s also pushed me to figure out more on my own, and I think that’s helped me grow.
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Taking on more responsibility has helped me work toward a senior role
I want to grow into a senior-level position someday. So even though my workload has increased, I’ve seen it as a chance to show I can take on more independently.
As I’ve gotten more experienced, I’ve found that I don’t need to involve my manager in most day-to-day tasks. Now, I go to them only when there’s something particularly important. For everything else, I just keep them informed during our check-ins. Even when we do meet, it’s mostly me sharing updates on what I’ve been working on. I hope that this experience will help me take the next step in my career.
Most people on our team are fairly experienced, which has made it easier for us to manage things independently, even with less frequent check-ins with our manager. One newer team member doesn’t have as much experience, so I’ve been trying to help them out. No one asked me to do this — I just decided to.
I wanted to make sure they had a good experience after joining and felt supported as they got up to speed. It’s added to my responsibilities a bit, but I’ve been happy to step in and help where I can.
The way my role has shifted hasn’t always been easy, but it’s helped me build confidence and take on more ownership. I’ve learned to rely less on my manager and more on my own judgment — and that’s something I hope will serve me well going forward.
