Understanding the psychology of tech workers to communicate effectively and succeed
What does it take to succeed in the tech industry? Let's go beyond cultivating technical skills and understand what sort of communication works—and what doesn't—for those who collaborate with you.
Photo by Fons Heijnsbroek, abstract-art on Unsplash
For a while now, I’ve been obsessed with one question: What does it take to succeed in the tech industry?
When there’s one layoff after another, and when talented and experienced professionals struggle to get a job or keep the one they have, the answer becomes more than technical skills.
Technical skills can be learned. Boxes can be checked. Ironically, even to showcase your technical skills, more often than not, you need to communicate clearly and persuasively. You need to be able to say what those technical skills are, how they apply to the unique problems of your (future) place of work, and what impact they would create.
Many characteristics of good writing and communication can be mastered. They can be used for your work-related communications as well. But until you understand the psychology of the people you work with in tech, it’s not going to be easy to fine-tune your messages and adjust them so that they’re acted on.
To put it another way: Communicating with your colleagues while keeping in mind their motivations and challenges can make you a better professional. You can then be someone who helps others (and yourself) perform the best and feel fulfilled to do so.
Sure, each individual is different, and the company culture and the specific location of where you work will impact how people you work with feel, the challenges they have, and what motivates them. That being said, the information below empowers you with a broader understanding that’s backed up by a large number of rigorous research (e.g., I’m only referencing the studies that I’ve accessed, but they have their list of trusted references).
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