I believe that both leadership and management skills can be learned and developed and that both are necessary in order to be optimally successful--especially over the long term.

With software development migrating overseas, do you think a developer with 20-plus years of experience would be wise to retrain in network support and administration? Although you identify yourself as an experienced hand, it's not clear what type of software you've developed during your career, and this is an important consideration. For example, end-user application developers will find the sort of transition you're describing more difficult to make than those who are experienced with systems-level software development. In general, the deeper in the ISO stack you are in terms of software development experience, the easier you will find making the transition you describe.

You might want to consider further developing "surround skills" to complement your software development expertise--for example, strengthening your project management skills and credentials by completing a PMP certification through the Project Management Institute. Or you might want to consider further honing your analysis skills and applying them in particular to effective requirements definition and requirements management skills. Strong project management and/or analysis skills geared toward requirements definition are worth their weight in gold--in spite of the current trend toward offshoring.

Technology trends come and go, but there will always be a need for highly skilled software professionals. Do what you enjoy doing the most, and do it to the very best of your ability. When all is said and done, that's what will give you the most personal and professional satisfaction--and, more often than not, will result in your remaining productively engaged.

Mining a Rich Vein of Software Talent