Below is a guide with practical examples and contrasts to improve each of the communication skills listed in the previous post , illustrating with frequent situations that a developer faces:
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Active listening:
- Practical examples:
- During meetings, avoid distractions and focus all your attention on the speaker.
- Ask follow-up questions to ensure you fully understand the key points.
- Take notes and summarize the main points to show that you are actively listening.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Constantly interrupting the speaker or not paying attention while he speaks.
- Assume that you already know everything about the topic and do not try to understand the perspectives of others.
- Frequent situation: During a sprint planning meeting, some developers may have difficulty understanding the product requirements presented by the product owner.
- Practical examples:
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Clear and concise expression:
- Practical examples:
- Organize your thoughts before speaking, and structure communication logically.
- Use simple language and avoid unnecessary technical jargon when talking to non-technicians.
- Provide examples and analogies to illustrate complex concepts.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Rampage or talk in circles without reaching the central point.
- Use excessive technical jargon that may confuse listeners.
- Frequent situation: When presenting a new feature to the product team, a senior developer must explain the technical aspects in a way that is understandable to everyone involved.
- Practical examples:
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Empathy and respect:
- Practical examples:
- Treat all team members with courtesy and respect, regardless of their role or level of experience.
- Show genuine interest in understanding the perspectives and concerns of others.
- Use inclusive language and avoid offensive or discriminatory comments.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Belittling the ideas or contributions of other team members.
- Adopt a condescending or arrogant attitude when communicating.
- Frequent situation: During a code review, a junior developer may make mistakes or have different approaches than a more experienced senior developer.
- Practical examples:
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Constructive feedback:
- Practical examples:
- Provide specific feedback focused on the behavior or work, not the person.
- Balance negative comments with praise and positive suggestions.
- Ask for feedback from others and be open to receiving constructive criticism.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Criticize in a destructive or personal way, instead of focusing on work.
- Defensively reject any criticism or suggestion for improvement. -Frequent situation: After a code review, a senior developer must provide constructive feedback to a junior developer about her coding approach.
- Practical examples:
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Conflict resolution:
- Practical examples:
- Remain calm and address disagreements professionally and objectively.
- Look for compromise solutions in which all parties can win.
- Focus on the facts and avoid personal attacks or accusations.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Respond aggressively or defensively to conflicts.
- Refusing to compromise or consider the points of view of others.
- Frequent situation: Two developers may have different approaches to the best way to implement a feature, which can lead to a technical conflict.
- Practical examples:
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Visual communication:
- Practical examples:
- Use diagrams, slides and other visual tools to explain complex concepts.
- Ensure that visual presentations are clear, concise sas and easy to follow.
- Practice and receive feedback on visual presentation skills.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Present excessively dense or disordered information on slides or diagrams.
- Rely solely on verbal explanations to communicate complex ideas.
- Frequent situation: A senior developer may need to present the architecture of a new system or proposed improvements to an existing architecture to the entire development team.
- Practical examples:
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Adaptability:
- Practical examples:
- Evaluate the level of knowledge and experience of the public before communicating.
- Adjust the level of technical detail and language used as necessary.
- Be attentive to verbal and non-verbal cues from listeners to adapt communication accordingly.
- Contrast (what not to do):
- Use a "one size fits all" approach to communication, without considering the specific needs and backgrounds of the audience.
- Ignore signs of confusion or lack of understanding on the part of the listeners.
- Frequent situation: A senior developer may need to explain the same technical concept to different audiences, such as the developer team, the product management team, and external stakeholders.
- Practical examples:
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