My new favorite book is Debugging Teams by Brian Fitzpatrick and Ben Collins-Sussman, two engineers who are deeply converted to the importance of communication and collaboration. Here’s their opening epigram, from Bill Coughran: “Engineering is easy. People are hard.” Exactly.
Fitz and Ben’s argument is that software development is a team sport, so it’s worth investing energy in becoming a communicator: “Being a successful programmer isn’t just about learning the latest language or writing the fastest code. Professional coders almost always work in teams, and it turns out that one’s team directly affects the individual’s productivity and happiness more than many people would like to admit. . . Learning to collaborate is just as important to success. If you invest in the ‘soft skills’ of engineering, you can have a much greater impact for the same amount of effort.”
Theirs is a highly pragmatic position – do more, do it better, do it faster, do it with less pain. All of this is possible when you become a great communicator and collaborator. I just love to see engineers talking to other engineers in language that engineers understand about the power of communication.
Here is Fitz and Ben’s basic thesis: “In order to reach collaborative nirvana, you first need to learn and embrace what we call the ‘three pillars’ of social skills.
- Humility: You are not the center of the universe. You’re neither omniscient nor infallible. You’re open to self-improvement.
- Respect: You genuinely care about others you work with. You treat them as human beings, and appreciate their abilities and accomplishments.
- Trust: You believe others are competent and will do the right thing, and you’re OK with letting them drive when appropriate.”
To distill: Other people matter. Be a decent human. Connect. Collaborate. Create. Thrive. It turns out that the maxims that make you a great engineering team member also make you a great colleague, friend and family member too.
June is Debugging Teams month on poseyblog, so expect a lot more detail on this great book over the next four Thursdays.
Communication is the essential last mile in finding and motivating the right teams, acquiring strong allies, powerfully bonding with customers, and capturing mindshare with compelling stories. Nothing will serve you and your vision better than developing exceptional communication skills. Lisa Poulson, poseycorp’s principal, pairs the principles and practices of executive coaching with 30 years of experience in communications – a rare and powerful combination. Lisa is expert at helping innovators become great communicators.
