Be a Better Developer (no code required) (ArrrrCamp)

Similar to my "How to be a Better Junior Developer" talk, with some new content, including incorporating my "Ask vs. Guess Cultures" talk.

Abstract:
Most developers focus on increasing their technical knowledge. However, there are many aspects to working as a professional developer besides coding proficiency. If you have interests or experience in other fields, you can pull in even those non-technical skills (like building relationships, project management) and immediately increase your impact on a project or team. When you mentor someone, you can help them play to their strengths and ramp up more quickly as a result.

Presented at ArrrrCamp 2014 in Belgium, ~30 minutes: http://youtu.be/u-LS1hMdSg4
Blog post: http://kwugirl.blogspot.com/2014/11/be-better-developer-no-code-required.html

Transcript

1. Be a better developer (no code required) Katherine Wu @kwugirl ! ! Software Engineer
2. where I’m coming from
3. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/e9UTz where I’m coming from > Long ! way ! to go…
4. @kwugirl where I’m coming from > Pac-Man Not Pac-Man Pac-Man's eye
5. @kwugirl where I’m coming from > lazy people smart people developers!
6. @kwugirl these two weird tricks where I’m coming from >
7. Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback next: better relationships, step 1 @kwugirl Where We Are
8. 3-step plan for! better relationships
9. @kwugirl friendship is magic! better relationships >
10. @kwugirl 1. get people to want ! to help you better relationships >
11. @kwugirl get to know people better relationships > get people to help you >
12. @kwugirl better relationships > get people to help you > get to know people
13. @kwugirl better relationships > get people to help you > get to know people
14. @kwugirl better relationships > get people to help you > get to know people the support team https://flic.kr/p/57gjkS
15. @kwugirl show you did your homework better relationships > get people to help you >
16. @kwugirl “If you’re busy, who else could I talk to about this?” better relationships > get people to help you > show your work
17. @kwugirl “Is there somewhere I could’ve found this answer on my own?” better relationships > get people to help you > show your work
18. @kwugirl better relationships > get people to help you > show your work push out and extend https://flic.kr/p/86nc96
19. @kwugirl show your appreciation better relationships > get people to help you >
20. @kwugirl tell their manager better relationships > get people to help you > show your appreciation
21. Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback next: better relationships, step 2 @kwugirl Where We Are
22. @kwugirl 2. make your team ! look good better relationships >
23. @kwugirl give awesome demos better relationships > make your team look good
24. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/fbQZmF better relationships > make your team look good > demos write a script
25. @kwugirl status updates better relationships > make your team look good
26. @kwugirl “…so what?” better relationships > make your team look good > status updates
27. @kwugirl before: “We changed email reports to be sent at 1am local time.” better relationships > make your team look good > status updates
28. @kwugirl after: “We changed email reports to be sent at 1am local time, allowing customers to receive data in the correct local time window.” better relationships > make your team look good > status updates
29. @kwugirl be responsive, thorough, & empathetic better relationships > make your team look good
30. Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback @kwugirl next: better relationships, step 3 Where We Are
31. @kwugirl 3. recognize ask vs. guess cultures better relationships >
32. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
33. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You
34. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie
35. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor
36. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor
37. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor Can Taylor stay with you?
38. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor ?
39. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor I’ll just tell them no.
40. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor or
41. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures You Jamie Taylor Ugh, this puts me in a difficult position.
42. @kwugirl “I’ll just tell them no.” better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures “Ugh, this puts me in a difficult position.” Ask Culture Guess Culture
43. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
44. @kwugirl it’s OK to ask for anything + you’re OK getting ‘no’ for an answer better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background ASK
45. @kwugirl avoid asking unless the answer will be yes better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background GUESS
46. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background ASK GUESS
47. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background ASK GUESS
48. @kwugirl a few examples better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples
49. @kwugirl “The Seattle No” better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples https://medium.com/lessons-learned/the-seattle-no-177091f864a4
50. @kwugirl Hey, I’m going to this party, do you want to come? better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
51. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No Hmm that sounds interesting, I’ll have to check.
52. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No or
53. @kwugirl Oh yeah, maybe… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
54. @kwugirl Oh yeah, maybe… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No + don’t hear from them again about it
55. @kwugirl THIS MEANS NO. better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
56. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food
57. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Me: “Hmm, I don’t have time to make 
 lunch for next week.”
58. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Me: “Hmm, I don’t have time to make 
 lunch for next week.” Dan hears
59. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Me: “Hmm, I don’t have time to make 
 lunch for next week.” “Could you make extra meals so I have lunch for the week?” Dan hears
60. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 
 weekend.”
61. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 
 weekend.” I think
62. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 
 weekend.” “That’s so weird, Dan’s planning to make an extra meal this weekend, but ok.” I think
63. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 
 weekend.” “That’s so weird, Dan’s planning to make an extra meal this weekend, but ok.” I think What I did not say: “Oh, you don’t 
 " " " " " " have to do that.”
64. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food End Result Me Dan
65. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food End Result Me “Why do we have so much food in the fridge??” Dan
66. @kwugirl better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food End Result Me “Why do we have so much food in the fridge??” Dan “I’m such a
 ..good husband.”
67. @kwugirl pros/cons better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures >
68. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
69. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Prioritizes efficiency
70. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Prioritizes efficiency No ambiguity
71. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Prioritizes efficiency No ambiguity Gets what you want
 (in the short-term)
72. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons More open conflict Prioritizes efficiency No ambiguity Gets what you want
 (in the short-term)
73. @kwugirl Ask Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons More open conflict Can make people feel uncomfortable Prioritizes efficiency No ambiguity Gets what you want
 (in the short-term)
74. @kwugirl Guess Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
75. @kwugirl Guess Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Prioritizes not 
 hurting feelings
76. @kwugirl Guess Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Prioritizes not 
 hurting feelings More polite
77. @kwugirl Guess Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Hard if you’re bad at 
 reading social cues Prioritizes not 
 hurting feelings More polite
78. @kwugirl Guess Culture better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons Hard if you’re bad at 
 reading social cues Can feel like no one is listening to you Prioritizes not 
 hurting feelings More polite
79. @kwugirl strategies for handling better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures >
80. @kwugirl If you’re from Ask Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
81. @kwugirl If you’re from Ask Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies Make a Guess Culture close friend
82. @kwugirl If you’re from Ask Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies Make a Guess Culture close friend Listen more closely
83. @kwugirl If you’re from Ask Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies Make a Guess Culture close friend Listen more closely Apologize if you realize >1 interpretation
84. @kwugirl If you’re from Guess Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
85. @kwugirl If you’re from Guess Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies Remember that people might be 
 unaware of “the rules”
86. @kwugirl If you’re from Guess Culture… better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies Remember that people might be 
 unaware of “the rules” Resist the urge to “soften” a “No”
87. @kwugirl “Hey, I have a request, 
 but it’s totally cool 
 if you want to say no.” better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
88. @kwugirl Better Relationships 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures next: better communication
89. 3-step plan for ! better communication
90. @kwugirl 1. make it easy for people to help better communication >
91. @kwugirl better communication > make it easy
92. @kwugirl articulate why you’re confused better communication > make it easy
93. @kwugirl “You had me up until ______.” better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused
94. @kwugirl “I’m confused, because I thought you said a==b, and b==c, but here… a!=c ?” better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused
95. @kwugirl “I am trying to ___, so that I can ___. I’m running into ___. I’ve looked at ___ & tried ___.” better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused
96. @kwugirl better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused courage to say! “I don’t know”
97. @kwugirl “Wait, I actually don’t even know what that word means.” better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused
98. @kwugirl give specific, positive reinforcement better communication > make it easy
99. @kwugirl “It really helped me when you…” better communication > make it easy > positive reinforcement
100. Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback next: better communication, step 2 @kwugirl Where We Are
101. @kwugirl 2. ask good questions better communication >
102. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/e5PKTt how to use questions for good?? better communication > ask good questions
103. @kwugirl “Are we working on the right thing?” better communication > ask good questions
104. @kwugirl “Is there a reason we’re doing it this way?” better communication > ask good questions
105. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/6eFVyB better communication > ask good questions don’t put people ! on the defensive
106. @kwugirl better communication > ask good questions ask All The Questions https://flic.kr/p/chf4im
107. Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Cultures Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback next: better communication, step 3 @kwugirl Where We Are
108. @kwugirl 3. give good feedback better communication >
109. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/hgrkXJ better communication > give good feedback step into their shoes
110. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/4PdRQ8 better communication > give good feedback speak up when you have good things to say
111. @kwugirl “I don’t have an opinion on this topic.” better communication > give good feedback
112. @kwugirl accept feedback graciously better communication > give good feedback
113. @kwugirl Better Communication 1. Make it easy for people to help 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback next: pitfalls to avoid
114. pitfalls to avoid
115. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/7Eu25y pitfalls to avoid > “Girl Scout tax”
116. @kwugirl https://flic.kr/p/cwrm2u pitfalls to avoid > stay focused on your goal
117. @kwugirl Recommended Resources Team Geek: A Software Developer's Guide to Working Well with Others (http://amzn.to/1gyRzAH) The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success
 (http://amzn.to/1kJC0vK) “How to Survive Your First Year as a Programmer” (http://bit.ly/1mSoyYI) “5 Undervalued Skills in Tech & Why You Should Master Them Anyway” (http://bit.ly/1hu796E) “Self-promotion for Game Developers” (http://bit.ly/1kdVsmH) “Becoming an Influencer” (http://bit.ly/1htNrlt) next: recap, Q&A
118. Katherine Wu @kwugirl ! ! Software Engineer Better relationships! 1. Get people to want to 
 help you 2. Make your team look good 3. Recognize Ask vs. Guess Better communication! 1. Make it easy for people 
 to help you 2. Ask good questions 3. Give good feedback ?