Build direct relationships and don't play telephone
Improve outcomes by engaging directly with stakeholders and members of other teams.
Overview
As discussed in "Make clear and deliberate communication part of your workflow", engineering is at least equal parts technical skills and soft skills. One of the best ways to improve project outcomes is to communicate directly with the people involved, rather than relying on intermediaries to pass along information.
Engineers should proactively reach out to stakeholders, attend cross-functional meetings, and foster open lines of communication with other teams. This direct engagement helps to build alignment and trust, reduces the risk of miscommunication, and enhances the engineer's understanding of the problem space.
How to do it
- Checked item: Identify key stakeholders for your projects, including product managers, designers, QA, and other relevant teams.
- Checked item: Schedule regular check-ins or meetings with stakeholders you collaborate with frequently.
- Checked item: Reach out directly to the source rather than going through intermediaries when you have questions.
- Checked item: Attend cross-functional meetings and actively participate in discussions.
- Checked item: Use async collaboration tools as your first line of communication.
- Checked item: Set up video calls for complex topics that may be difficult to convey through text.
- Checked item: Be respectful of others' time - come prepared with specific questions or topics to discuss.
- Checked item: Build relationships with stakeholders
Details
Building relationships
Establishing trust and rapport with stakeholders takes time. Be patient and consistent in your communication. Work to understand their goals, challenges, and priorities, and demonstrate that you are invested in them. Be responsive to their needs and follow through on commitments.
In general, you want to be seen as a reliable partner who is easy to work with. Consider what would make you feel that way about someone else, and strive to embody those qualities in your interactions. Over time, these relationships will pay dividends in smoother collaboration and better project outcomes.
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