Effective Communication for Software Engineers

Years of experience developing software don’t translate into working software. Software development experience doesn’t allow you to listen and learn from domain experts. Communication does.

Working software is only applicable when it provides value to users. Developers must establish accountability through communication. To understand the potential value and impact delivered to users.

Rather than writing something that works is more important to focus on writing the right thing. Understanding the problem is not a matter of coding skills but communication skills.

Communication Skills

Convey genuine appreciation. Project warmth and high energy. It’s been observed people like you when they feel liked by you. To make it clear that you’re interested in the other person, think about what they know you don’t.

What do you want to learn in the interaction? Focus on that so they can walk away knowing they added value too.

Listen with intent. Your focus on asking specific questions about what’s being said in real-time makes others feel heard.

Listening Skills

Being a good listener is about two things:

1) Demonstrating that you’ve heard exactly what was said by the other person.

2) Encouraging them to continue.

Good listeners enable awareness through mindful communication.

Mindful communication creates understanding through awareness. [¹]

[¹]: Oren Jay Sofer (2018): Say What You Mean (https://www.amazon.com/Say-What-You-Mean-Communication/dp/161180583X)