The power of soft skills in software engineering

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.