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Development is More than Just Coding!

Pamela DelaneyTechnical Staff

Attributes of Influential Software Developers

Key Questions

Why do some technically skilled people have tremendous organizational influence?

Why are they the go-to people in crunch situations when others with equal (or better) technical skills have little or no influence and are passed over?

2MINK 18-19 October 2013

University Defined Skills for Success …

Typical CS/CE Undergraduate Degree– 60% technology, engineering– 30% math, physics, humanities, social science– 10% communication, speech, language

Typically Freshman level general education coursesUniversities’ curricula place little or no emphasis

on teamwork, writing, presentation and social skills. These are “not important”.

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Is this a problem for a technical career?

Definitions for nerd and geek include …– “socially impaired” – “socially awkward”– “have non-mainstream activities, which are

generally highly technical”The implication is that highly technical people are

smart but that, as a group, they are thought to have poor social / communication skills.

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Assertion …

The difference between the technical experts with influence and those without is their– Leadership skills– People skills– Communication skills

What is it that influential people do that is so special?

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1. They Treat Everyone As A Customer

Focus – Listen & ask

questionsAuthority

– Take ownership– No drama– Customer is assured

that a solution will be found

Communicate– Share knowledge– Mentor colleagues and

customers– Excellent written and oral

communication skills– Keep team members

informed– Communicate effectively

with technical and non-technical audiences

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2. They are Team Players

Flexible– Take on problems outside

their expertise and grow skills as needed for the sake of the team

Respectful– Attend on-time and engage

in meetings– Relaxed body language– Inclusive oral language– Work with anyone!– Courteous

Conflict Resolution Specialists– Open to new approaches– Accept different

viewpoints– Re-evaluate decisions

when new data are available

– Can compromise

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3. They Push the Envelope

Strategic Thinkers Technically current!

– Understand the business– Understand upcoming products and propose changes for better quality

or maintenance or for future feature support Drive change

– Different kernel, compiler, source archival tool, other ideas, … Go beyond their job

– Develop tools / processes that benefit in-house needs– Specialized tools for debug, visualization of configuration, etc.

Unsatisfied with the status quo, they learn to work the system to drive improvement

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Influence / Leadership DetractorsPoor communication skills

– Cannot work with customersPoor people skills

– Why work with someone who is difficult?– Why work with his or her company?

Individualistic, not aTeam Contributor– Negatively affects team dynamics

Non-Leader by Choice– Do not want the responsibility– Won’t assume risk

9NetApp Confidential - Internal Use Only

Assertion …

People skills and leadership skills are the difference between those with influence and those without, given equal technical abilities.

Building influence requires that you ….

10MINK 18-19 October 2013

Stay Technically Current

Technical expertise is necessary– Learn your business and your product(s)

External - customer perspective Internal – code, builds, distribution, ….

– Find out what is important to your companyRead promotion announcements

– “drive for results”, “executes without drama” and “builds a terrific team” ….

Understand company goals/missionMake continual learning part of your daily routine!

11MINK 18-19 October 2013

Build Social / Teamwork Skills

Treat the social aspect of your job as seriously as you treat the technical aspect.– Read– Take leadership courses– Take classes on conflict resolution– Build a network

Get to know your colleaguesBe a Mentor / Get a Mentor

– Ask for feedback– Say Yes! when someone needs help.

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Ashton Kutcher’s comments to a group of teenage girls…(Aug, 2013) is a perfect business motto:

“Be Smart, be Thoughtful & be Generous”

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The B’s (Julie Parrish, CMO NetApp)

Be Nice Echoed by Sandberg in Lean In.

Be Flexible Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, trust your abilities.

Be Good at your Job Be a technical expert! Forward thinker! Understand your business.

Be Present Don’t just show up, engage! Participate & prepare for meetings, be on time, bring ideas to the table, make opportunities. (See Lean In)

Be Good at Conflict Resolution

Its all about teamwork. Learn to manage conflict to get the best from the team.

Be Relaxed with Organizational Change

Change happens. Be supportive, look for the silver lining.

Be Helpful Re: Kutcher, Re: Sandberg. Success is a team effort

14NetApp Confidential - Internal Use Only

Summary

Technical skills alone will be enough to land a job and to start climbing a technical ladder, but they are not enough to develop influence and may not be enough to keep a job.– Work as hard on your communication / people skills

as you do on your technical skills.– Work hard on your technical skills to grow expertise

and remain current– Have confidence in your abilities to do the unknown.

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