Coding Chats episode 54 - Nikki Maginn and John Crickett explore the critical role of soft skills in engineering, emphasizing the importance of communication, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. They discuss how engineers can bridge the gap between technical expertise and customer-facing roles, the art of asking questions, and the significance of building trust and meaningful connections. The dialogue also touches on the balance of confidence and humility in leadership, the power of storytelling, and the necessity of understanding context in communication. Ultimately, the conversation highlights that soft skills are essential for engineers to thrive in their careers and contribute effectively to their teams.
Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Soft Skills in Engineering
03:14 Bridging the Gap: Engineers and Customer Interaction
06:26 Nature vs. Nurture: The Art of Asking Questions
09:06 Effective Communication: How to Ask the Right Questions
12:06 Understanding Context: The Key to Effective Dialogue
14:53 Navigating Emotional Reactions in Communication
17:36 Feedback and Conflict Resolution: Building Better Relationships
20:57 The Efficiency of Communication in Engineering
23:32 The Role of Emotions in Engineering
26:38 Team Dynamics: The Myth of the 10x Developer
29:08 The Importance of Communication in Engineering
31:29 Empowering Teams to Reduce Meetings
34:40 Communicating with Impact
38:21 Building Trust with Non-Technical Stakeholders
42:11 Creating Meaningful Connections
48:53 Owning Your Confidence as an Engineer
Nikki's Links:
Website: www.insideoutengineering.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-maginn/
John's Links:
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.
Takeaways
Engineering success relies on effective communication and collaboration.
Engineers must learn to translate technical work for broader understanding.
Emotional intelligence is crucial for engineers in customer-facing roles.
Asking the right questions is a teachable skill.
Building trust requires meaningful connections with colleagues.
Navigating difficult conversations is essential for team dynamics.
Context is key in understanding reactions and emotions in communication.
Confidence should be balanced with humility in leadership roles.
Storytelling can enhance the impact of technical communication.
Investing in relationships leads to more efficient conversations.