Top People Skills for Developers
Posted on April 23, 2009 by Neil Simon under
Code.
Be Friendly
- People like to work with people they like.
- A genuine smile and a positive attitude goes a long way.
- Respect everyone — you can learn from everyone.
Be Collaborative
- Work hard to build concensus among stakeholders.
- Be willing to compromise.
- If you don’t agree with an idea, suggest creative alternatives that can incorporate the idea in different ways.
Be a Great Listener
- What does the user really need?
- It’s not what you want — it’s what they want.
- Listen objectively. Ask open ended questions. Allow everyone the opportunity to speak.
Deliver Some Early Pieces Quickly
- Lets your user know you’ve been listening.
- Gives users an opportunity for feedback.
- Keeps the conversation going in a positive direction.