3 ms·

This doesn't read well. If you want to be heard, communication skills matter.

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
Well, that's something I'm fairly good at. A quick shufti at my writing will settle that. I covered it below. I actually totally understand why it was ignored. I don't agree with the reasons, but I needed to accept them, anyway. I did what I could, to prepare myself, and my team, while still performing the assigned duties. We did as well as could be expected. I stuck around, to the end, because it was my duty to my employees. My employers needed to deal with the problems they insisted on owning.
- danielmarkbruce 4y ago
  You've managed to mention how good you are at several things. Your favorite word seems to be "I". It doesn't read well. You might be a brilliant engineer, but the communication on display is bad. Just saying "I'm a strategic thinker" will turn off a large % of people. That's 101 as far as interacting with humans goes.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
    Oh, I don't humblebrag. I won't get into why, but let's just say that my ethical position does not work with it. There's things I'm good at, and things I'm bad at. I don't shy from mentioning either. Anyone that has worked with me, is aware of how I work. Feel free to judge me. You certainly won't be alone. I miiiiggghttt suggest maybe doing a bit of research, first. I make it fairly easy.
    - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
      Just judging what's been written. You might be a brilliant person, and a good one on top of it. All I'm saying is what's been written doesn't read well. Most people won't research others, they'll just see what's written (or said) and if that is a turn off, they'll shut down. If you have good ideas it's worth taking a little effort to understand the machines and systems you are dealing with (humans and organizations) so you can get those ideas broadly understood/accepted.
      - ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
        Well, considering I worked with these people for 27 years, I have a feeling they had my measure. I knew them, and accepted the fact they were ignoring over a decade (at the time) of working with me, so it was what it was. We're usually really good at solving other people's problems, from outside, but every case is unique[0]. In the aggregate, I was proud to have worked there, and gladly stayed, even knowing what I knew, mostly because of the relationships I made, and the chance to learn what I learned. I was learning exciting new stuff; right up until the very end, and made many lifelong friends. [0] "There's always an easy solution to every human problem; Neat, plausible and wrong." -H. L. Mencken
        danielmarkbruce 4y ago
        I do like that quote. Thanks.
throwaquestion5 4y ago
No level of communication skill will matter is you are below the company's 'thinking individual' position. Any business opinion you may have will be ignored or worse, chastised for not being part of the vision.
- danielmarkbruce 4y ago
  That might have been your experience. I've seen junior people have their opinion and thoughts taken seriously when communicated the right way through the right channels to the right people. Those people also tend to do well and don't stay junior long.

Well, that's something I'm fairly good at. A quick shufti at my writing will settle that. I covered it below. I actually totally understand why it was ignored. I don't agree with the reasons, but I needed to accept them, anyway. I did what I could, to prepare myself, and my team, while still performing the assigned duties. We did as well as could be expected. I stuck around, to the end, because it was my duty to my employees. My employers needed to deal with the problems they insisted on owning.

danielmarkbruce 4y ago
You've managed to mention how good you are at several things. Your favorite word seems to be "I". It doesn't read well. You might be a brilliant engineer, but the communication on display is bad. Just saying "I'm a strategic thinker" will turn off a large % of people. That's 101 as far as interacting with humans goes.
- ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
  Oh, I don't humblebrag. I won't get into why, but let's just say that my ethical position does not work with it. There's things I'm good at, and things I'm bad at. I don't shy from mentioning either. Anyone that has worked with me, is aware of how I work. Feel free to judge me. You certainly won't be alone. I miiiiggghttt suggest maybe doing a bit of research, first. I make it fairly easy.
  - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
    Just judging what's been written. You might be a brilliant person, and a good one on top of it. All I'm saying is what's been written doesn't read well. Most people won't research others, they'll just see what's written (or said) and if that is a turn off, they'll shut down. If you have good ideas it's worth taking a little effort to understand the machines and systems you are dealing with (humans and organizations) so you can get those ideas broadly understood/accepted.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
      Well, considering I worked with these people for 27 years, I have a feeling they had my measure. I knew them, and accepted the fact they were ignoring over a decade (at the time) of working with me, so it was what it was. We're usually really good at solving other people's problems, from outside, but every case is unique[0]. In the aggregate, I was proud to have worked there, and gladly stayed, even knowing what I knew, mostly because of the relationships I made, and the chance to learn what I learned. I was learning exciting new stuff; right up until the very end, and made many lifelong friends. [0] "There's always an easy solution to every human problem; Neat, plausible and wrong." -H. L. Mencken
      - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
        I do like that quote. Thanks.

throwaquestion5 4y ago

No level of communication skill will matter is you are below the company's 'thinking individual' position. Any business opinion you may have will be ignored or worse, chastised for not being part of the vision.

danielmarkbruce 4y ago
That might have been your experience. I've seen junior people have their opinion and thoughts taken seriously when communicated the right way through the right channels to the right people. Those people also tend to do well and don't stay junior long.