$30 off During Our Annual Pro Sale. View Details »

Working Well With Devs (no code required) (MacDevOps::YVR)

Working Well With Devs (no code required) (MacDevOps::YVR)

Presented at MacDevOps::YVR 2016.

Based on my "Be a Better Developer (no code required)", but customized a bit for a more DevOps/Mac sysadmin audience.

Presented at MacDevOps::YVR 2016 in Vancouver, ~30 minutes: http://matx.ca/mdoyvr/2016/day2/kwu/Default.html
Storify of responses: https://storify.com/kwugirl/working-well-with-devs-no-code-required

Katherine Wu

June 21, 2016
Tweet

More Decks by Katherine Wu

Other Decks in Programming

Transcript

  1. Working Well With Devs
    (no code required)
    Katherine Wu
    @kwugirl
    Software Engineer

    View Slide

  2. where I’m coming from

    View Slide

  3. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/e9UTz
    where I’m coming from >
    Long
    way
    to go…

    View Slide

  4. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  5. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  6. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  7. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  8. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  9. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >
    smart people

    View Slide

  10. @kwugirl
    where I’m coming from >
    smart people
    technical people!
    lazy people

    View Slide

  11. @kwugirl
    these two weird tricks!!1!one!
    where I’m coming from >

    View Slide

  12. 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

    View Slide

  13. 3-step plan for
    better relationships

    View Slide

  14. @kwugirl
    friendship
    is magic!
    better relationships >

    View Slide

  15. @kwugirl
    1. get people to want
    to help you
    better relationships >

    View Slide

  16. @kwugirl
    get to know people
    better relationships > get people to help you >

    View Slide

  17. @kwugirl
    better relationships > get people to help you > get to know people

    View Slide

  18. @kwugirl
    better relationships > get people to help you > get to know people

    View Slide

  19. @kwugirl
    share common interests
    better relationships > get people to help you >

    View Slide

  20. @kwugirl
    technical
    book club
    better relationships > get people to help you > share common interests

    View Slide

  21. @kwugirl
    lunchconf
    better relationships > get people to help you > share common interests

    View Slide

  22. @kwugirl
    lunchconf
    better relationships > get people to help you > share common interests
    kwugirl.blogspot.com/2015/10/continuing-education-at-work-talk.html

    View Slide

  23. @kwugirl
    show your appreciation
    better relationships > get people to help you >

    View Slide

  24. @kwugirl
    tell their manager
    better relationships > get people to help you > show your appreciation

    View Slide

  25. 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

    View Slide

  26. @kwugirl
    2. make your team
    look good
    better relationships >

    View Slide

  27. @kwugirl
    give awesome demos
    better relationships > make your team look good

    View Slide

  28. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/fbQZmF
    better relationships > make your team look good > demos
    write a script

    View Slide

  29. @kwugirl
    status updates
    better relationships > make your team look good

    View Slide

  30. @kwugirl
    “…so what?”
    better relationships > make your team look good > status updates

    View Slide

  31. @kwugirl
    before:
    “We changed email reports to be sent at
    1am local time.”
    better relationships > make your team look good > status updates

    View Slide

  32. @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

    View Slide

  33. @kwugirl
    be responsive,
    thorough, & empathetic
    better relationships > make your team look good

    View Slide

  34. 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

    View Slide

  35. @kwugirl
    3. recognize ask vs.
    guess cultures
    better relationships >

    View Slide

  36. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures

    View Slide

  37. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You

    View Slide

  38. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie

    View Slide

  39. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor

    View Slide

  40. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor

    View Slide

  41. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor
    Can Taylor stay
    with you?

    View Slide

  42. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor
    ?

    View Slide

  43. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor
    I’ll just tell them no.

    View Slide

  44. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor
    or

    View Slide

  45. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures
    You
    Jamie
    Taylor
    Ugh, this puts me in
    a difficult position.

    View Slide

  46. @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

    View Slide

  47. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background

    View Slide

  48. @kwugirl
    it’s OK to ask for anything
    +
    you’re OK getting ‘no’
    for an answer
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK

    View Slide

  49. @kwugirl
    avoid asking unless
    the answer will be yes
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    GUESS

    View Slide

  50. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK GUESS

    View Slide

  51. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK GUESS

    View Slide

  52. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK GUESS

    View Slide

  53. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK GUESS

    View Slide

  54. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > background
    ASK GUESS

    View Slide

  55. @kwugirl
    a few examples
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples

    View Slide

  56. @kwugirl
    “The Seattle No”
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples
    https://medium.com/lessons-learned/the-seattle-no-177091f864a4

    View Slide

  57. @kwugirl
    Hey, I’m going to this party,
    do you want to come?
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No

    View Slide

  58. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
    Hmm that sounds interesting,
    I’ll have to check.

    View Slide

  59. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
    or

    View Slide

  60. @kwugirl
    Oh yeah, maybe…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No

    View Slide

  61. @kwugirl
    Oh yeah, maybe…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
    + don’t hear from them again about it

    View Slide

  62. @kwugirl
    THIS MEANS NO.
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No

    View Slide

  63. @kwugirl
    THIS MEANS NO.
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > Seattle No
    (not obvious to all of us.)

    View Slide

  64. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food

    View Slide

  65. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food
    Me: “Hmm, I don’t have time to make 

    lunch for next week.”

    View Slide

  66. @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

    View Slide

  67. @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

    View Slide

  68. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food
    Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 

    weekend.”

    View Slide

  69. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food
    Dan: “I’m going to cook 2 meals this 

    weekend.”
    I think

    View Slide

  70. @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

    View Slide

  71. @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.”

    View Slide

  72. @kwugirl
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > examples > so much food
    End Result
    Me Dan

    View Slide

  73. @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

    View Slide

  74. @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.”

    View Slide

  75. @kwugirl
    pros/cons
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures >

    View Slide

  76. @kwugirl
    Ask Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons

    View Slide

  77. @kwugirl
    Ask Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
    Prioritizes
    efficiency

    View Slide

  78. @kwugirl
    Ask Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
    Prioritizes
    efficiency
    No ambiguity

    View Slide

  79. @kwugirl
    Ask Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
    Prioritizes
    efficiency
    No ambiguity
    Gets what you want

    (in the short-term)

    View Slide

  80. @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)

    View Slide

  81. @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)

    View Slide

  82. @kwugirl
    Guess Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons

    View Slide

  83. @kwugirl
    Guess Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
    Prioritizes not 

    hurting feelings

    View Slide

  84. @kwugirl
    Guess Culture
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > pros/cons
    Prioritizes not 

    hurting feelings
    More polite

    View Slide

  85. @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

    View Slide

  86. @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

    View Slide

  87. @kwugirl
    strategies for handling
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures >

    View Slide

  88. @kwugirl
    If you’re from Ask Culture…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies

    View Slide

  89. @kwugirl
    If you’re from Ask Culture…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
    Make a Guess Culture close friend

    View Slide

  90. @kwugirl
    If you’re from Ask Culture…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
    Make a Guess Culture close friend
    Listen more closely

    View Slide

  91. @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

    View Slide

  92. @kwugirl
    If you’re from Guess Culture…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies

    View Slide

  93. @kwugirl
    If you’re from Guess Culture…
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies
    Remember that people might be 

    unaware of “the rules”

    View Slide

  94. @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”

    View Slide

  95. @kwugirl
    “Hey, I have a request, 

    but it’s totally cool 

    if you want to say no.”
    better relationships > ask vs. guess cultures > strategies

    View Slide

  96. @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

    View Slide

  97. 3-step plan for
    better communication

    View Slide

  98. @kwugirl
    1. make it easy for
    people to help
    better communication >

    View Slide

  99. @kwugirl
    better communication > make it easy

    View Slide

  100. @kwugirl
    articulate why
    you’re confused
    better communication > make it easy

    View Slide

  101. @kwugirl
    “You had me up
    until ______.”
    better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

    View Slide

  102. @kwugirl
    give context
    better communication > make it easy

    View Slide

  103. @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

    View Slide

  104. @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

    View Slide

  105. @kwugirl
    better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused
    courage to say
    “I don’t know”

    View Slide

  106. @kwugirl
    “Wait, I actually don’t even
    know what that word means.”
    better communication > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

    View Slide

  107. @kwugirl
    give specific, positive
    reinforcement
    better communication > make it easy

    View Slide

  108. @kwugirl
    “It really helped me
    when you…”
    better communication > make it easy > positive reinforcement

    View Slide

  109. 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

    View Slide

  110. @kwugirl
    2. ask good questions
    better communication >

    View Slide

  111. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/e5PKTt
    how to use
    questions
    for good??
    better communication > ask good questions

    View Slide

  112. @kwugirl
    “Are we working on
    the right thing?”
    better communication > ask good questions

    View Slide

  113. @kwugirl
    “Is there a reason we’re
    doing it this way?”
    better communication > ask good questions

    View Slide

  114. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/6eFVyB
    better communication > ask good questions
    don’t put
    people
    on the
    defensive

    View Slide

  115. @kwugirl
    better communication > ask good questions
    ask All The Questions
    https://flic.kr/p/chf4im

    View Slide

  116. 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

    View Slide

  117. @kwugirl
    3. give good feedback
    better communication >

    View Slide

  118. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/hgrkXJ
    better communication > give good feedback
    step into their shoes

    View Slide

  119. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/4PdRQ8
    better communication > give good feedback
    speak up when
    you have good
    things to say

    View Slide

  120. @kwugirl
    “I don’t have an opinion
    on this topic.”
    better communication > give good feedback

    View Slide

  121. @kwugirl
    accept feedback
    graciously
    better communication > give good feedback

    View Slide

  122. @kwugirl
    Better Communication
    1. Make it easy for people to help
    2. Ask good questions
    3. Give good feedback
    next: pitfalls to avoid

    View Slide

  123. pitfalls to avoid

    View Slide

  124. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/7Eu25y
    pitfalls to avoid >
    “Girl Scout tax”

    View Slide

  125. @kwugirl
    https://flic.kr/p/cwrm2u
    pitfalls to avoid >
    stay focused on your goal

    View Slide

  126. @kwugirl
    Recommended Resources
    Team Geek: A Software Developer's Guide to Working Well with Others
    Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs Production Systems
    The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success
    “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

    View Slide

  127. 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
    ?
    “Full Stack Engineer - Build and Deploy”
    “Network Engineer”
    “Director of Site Engineering"
    “Site Reliability Engineer - Infrastructure”
    “Site Reliability Engineer - Provisioning”
    & more!

    View Slide

  128. 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
    ?
    “Full Stack Engineer - Build and Deploy”
    “Network Engineer”
    “Director of Site Engineering"
    “Site Reliability Engineer - Infrastructure”
    “Site Reliability Engineer - Provisioning”
    & more!

    View Slide