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Pretty moot argument. If technical people spent a significant part of their time on how to bring a message instead of the content of the message, they would har

Pretty moot argument. If technical people spent a significant part of their time on how to bring a message instead of the content of the message, they would hardly be technical people. You need smart minds to be doing what they are good at. It's pretty obvious why different people have different tasks, you wouldn't let a person from PR do a technical design, and you wouldn't let someone from technical design do the PR. Both would probably have ackward results...

davidmathers 16y ago
Reductio ad absurdum.
RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
And I wouldn't let someone be a manager or technical people unless they also had some technical skills, and technical people without the ability to work well with other people usually don't get very far. There are honorable exceptions, but I've learned never to rely on being one of the exceptional cases. By all means, concentrate on your technical skills and your technical skills alone, but understand the decision you're making. I've found that a small amount of time understanding business, negotiation, psychology and personal interaction has been enormously beneficial. If you choose not to learn from my experience, that's your choice.
- wladimir 16y ago
  Don't get me wrong -- I do see the importance of those things. But I also recognize they are a science in themselves. To get involved with that too much is a kind of slippery slope, which detracts from the main focus. A lot of people make a living of being obsessed about how things look and sound, the outward appearance. I choose to not be one of those people.
  - RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
    Much can be gained from a very small amount of effort. Like learning to say "Hello", "Goodbye", "Please" and "Thank you" in the language of the country you visit, the returns are disproportionate to the effort. It's not about being obsessed by how things look and sound, it's about realising there's a choice, and making the choice that makes it easy for the other person to join your side. There are a few small and simple "tricks" and techniques that can make a world of difference. "Not bothering" is also a choice. I just don't think it's a good one. Investing a small amount of time is better. Find a good balance.
TheSOB88 16y ago
The following sentence shall have the property of verbal irony. You spelled awkward wrong, asshat.
raganwald 16y ago
If technical people spent a significant part of their time on how to bring a message instead of the content of the message, they would hardly be technical people. You need smart minds to be doing what they are good at. You are presenting a dichotomy, that technical people can be smart or empathic but not both. Citation, please? I am keenly interested in learning why smart minds cannot be good at "what they are good at" if they take the time to improve their empathy and communication skills.

davidmathers 16y ago

Reductio ad absurdum.

RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago

And I wouldn't let someone be a manager or technical people unless they also had some technical skills, and technical people without the ability to work well with other people usually don't get very far. There are honorable exceptions, but I've learned never to rely on being one of the exceptional cases. By all means, concentrate on your technical skills and your technical skills alone, but understand the decision you're making. I've found that a small amount of time understanding business, negotiation, psychology and personal interaction has been enormously beneficial. If you choose not to learn from my experience, that's your choice.

wladimir 16y ago
Don't get me wrong -- I do see the importance of those things. But I also recognize they are a science in themselves. To get involved with that too much is a kind of slippery slope, which detracts from the main focus. A lot of people make a living of being obsessed about how things look and sound, the outward appearance. I choose to not be one of those people.
- RiderOfGiraffes 16y ago
  Much can be gained from a very small amount of effort. Like learning to say "Hello", "Goodbye", "Please" and "Thank you" in the language of the country you visit, the returns are disproportionate to the effort. It's not about being obsessed by how things look and sound, it's about realising there's a choice, and making the choice that makes it easy for the other person to join your side. There are a few small and simple "tricks" and techniques that can make a world of difference. "Not bothering" is also a choice. I just don't think it's a good one. Investing a small amount of time is better. Find a good balance.

TheSOB88 16y ago

The following sentence shall have the property of verbal irony. You spelled awkward wrong, asshat.

raganwald 16y ago

If technical people spent a significant part of their time on how to bring a message instead of the content of the message, they would hardly be technical people. You need smart minds to be doing what they are good at. You are presenting a dichotomy, that technical people can be smart or empathic but not both. Citation, please? I am keenly interested in learning why smart minds cannot be good at "what they are good at" if they take the time to improve their empathy and communication skills.