3 ms·

> Know your audience This point is something that I notice in a lot of meetings. Some of the engineers I work with are long winded and tend to over-explain con

by alimov 4y ago

> Know your audience This point is something that I notice in a lot of meetings. Some of the engineers I work with are long winded and tend to over-explain concepts/issues to non-engineering folks. I try to send a direct message during the meeting (now and then) to try and reel them in a little by explaining that the non-engineering folks don’t need those details and that a what they are really asking for is a summary of the key points of the concept/issue under discussion, but it’s not always well received.

fibonachos 4y ago
I’m definitely guilty of this one, and have been working on improving it due to feedback from a teammate. In my case it was very much appreciated :)
- alimov 4y ago
  I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of this now and again. Glad to hear that it’s possible for people to take this kind of feedback and put it to use.
macintux 4y ago
That, and even if it is the right audience, know when to save your topic for another context. I used to work with someone who, as a team meeting was wrapping up, was prone to interrupting everyone’s departure with a question that could easily have been asked on Slack.
- alimov 4y ago
  > “and even if it is the right audience, know when to save your topic for another context.” Yeah I agree with this as well
throwawaythekey 4y ago
I tend to under explain using lots of phrases like "it gets pretty mathy" as an excuse for hand waving details away. Most of the time I think I am doing the audience a favour but for the most part it seems like they actually want an explanation that they won't understand. I think lack of understanding gives them confidence that the implementation is as technical as they imagine it to be, and that I am actually engineering and not just talking bullshit. Going forward I think I'll prefer to be more technical for the self advancement.
urthor 4y ago
Empathy is its own little rabbit hole. Suggest reading a negotiation book like Never Split the Difference or 3D Negotiation. These books spend hundreds of pages describing techniques to jog your ability to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Endlessly bring up the major point, talking about how human beings see the world through rose tinted spectacles. Negotiation is about gathering information to make an offer the other person will accept. Thinking about the point of view of the other person is difficult, mentally intensive work. Most folk I need can do it. Many have just... fallen out of the habit.
- alimov 4y ago
  Never Split the Difference is a good read. I haven’t heard of 3D Negotiation. > Thinking about the point of view of the other person is difficult, mentally intensive work. That’s true

by alimov 4y ago

fibonachos 4y ago

I’m definitely guilty of this one, and have been working on improving it due to feedback from a teammate. In my case it was very much appreciated :)

alimov 4y ago
I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of this now and again. Glad to hear that it’s possible for people to take this kind of feedback and put it to use.

macintux 4y ago

That, and even if it is the right audience, know when to save your topic for another context. I used to work with someone who, as a team meeting was wrapping up, was prone to interrupting everyone’s departure with a question that could easily have been asked on Slack.

alimov 4y ago
> “and even if it is the right audience, know when to save your topic for another context.” Yeah I agree with this as well

throwawaythekey 4y ago

I tend to under explain using lots of phrases like "it gets pretty mathy" as an excuse for hand waving details away. Most of the time I think I am doing the audience a favour but for the most part it seems like they actually want an explanation that they won't understand. I think lack of understanding gives them confidence that the implementation is as technical as they imagine it to be, and that I am actually engineering and not just talking bullshit. Going forward I think I'll prefer to be more technical for the self advancement.

urthor 4y ago

Empathy is its own little rabbit hole. Suggest reading a negotiation book like Never Split the Difference or 3D Negotiation. These books spend hundreds of pages describing techniques to jog your ability to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Endlessly bring up the major point, talking about how human beings see the world through rose tinted spectacles. Negotiation is about gathering information to make an offer the other person will accept. Thinking about the point of view of the other person is difficult, mentally intensive work. Most folk I need can do it. Many have just... fallen out of the habit.

alimov 4y ago
Never Split the Difference is a good read. I haven’t heard of 3D Negotiation. > Thinking about the point of view of the other person is difficult, mentally intensive work. That’s true