I'm a middle-of-the-pack developer that is trying to become a manager.
My first step was taking up managing courses, and an MBA adapted for technology (MMOT).
I believe I've learned a lot of management skills and that they will help me when I make the jump, but I also agree with crasshopper that "empathy, listening, communicating clearly/fairly, inspiring people, making people feel valued" and other "soft/people" skills are skills you don't learn either as a developer or in management school.
So, my answer would be: developers can absolutely learn management skills, but some of them aren't taught in classes.
That also makes it harder to break into management (haven't succeeded yet, employers want people with experience, over qualifications)
My first step was taking up managing courses, and an MBA adapted for technology (MMOT).
I believe I've learned a lot of management skills and that they will help me when I make the jump, but I also agree with crasshopper that "empathy, listening, communicating clearly/fairly, inspiring people, making people feel valued" and other "soft/people" skills are skills you don't learn either as a developer or in management school.
So, my answer would be: developers can absolutely learn management skills, but some of them aren't taught in classes.
That also makes it harder to break into management (haven't succeeded yet, employers want people with experience, over qualifications)