Being an effective software developer requires so much more than coding ability. Whether you're rallying support for a new tool, negotiating tradeoffs with a designer, or providing feedback in a code review, effective communication is key. Even in the actual code, activities like choosing variable names and designing APIs require empathy for other developers. Motivating ourselves and managing stress are also important skills for a developer.
Sadly, skills like communication, empathy, and introspection are too often dismissed as "soft skills," which makes them seem weaker and less important than "hard" technical skills. It's time to change that. These skills actually help us to acquire new technical skills more efficiently, to decide which tools to use, and to share our technical expertise with others. In other words, they help us catalyze the development and application of our technical skills.
In this session, you'll learn about catalytic skills and leave with a practical framework for growing them and applying them to become a more effective—and happier—developer.
Delivered August 28, 2018 at Pluralsight LIVE 2018
7. @APRILWENSEL
WHY SOFTWARE PROJECTS FAIL
17%
21%
22%
23%
32%
37%
40%
48% Changing or poorly documented requirements
Underfunding or under-resourcing
Poor team or organizational management
Insufficient time allocated to testing
Developer churn and loss of key talent
Missed delivery timeline expectations
Time constraints and pre-mature software release
Immature dev tools & application platforms
https://www.developersalliance.org/developer-insights-report-2015/
9. “CONFESSIONS
OF A RECOVERING
JERK PROGRAMMER”
@APRILWENSEL
https://medium.com/compassionate-coding/confessions-of-a-
recovering-jerk-programmer-b9d531a05ea9
12. “THE FEELING THAT ARISES WHEN YOU
ARE CONFRONTED WITH ANOTHER’S
SUFFERING AND FEEL MOTIVATED TO
RELIEVE THAT SUFFERING”
@APRILWENSEL https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion/definition
COMPASSION
15. • SIGN OF WEAKNESS
• LESS IMPORTANT THAN “HARD” SKILLS
•JUST FOR MANAGERS
• SUGARCOATING
• BEING FAKE
• WOMEN’S WORK
• MANIPULATIVE
• PLAYING POLITICS
“SOFT” SKILLS
@APRILWENSEL
18. @APRILWENSEL
“AN AGENT THAT PROVOKES
OR SPEEDS SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE OR ACTION”
CATALYST
https://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/5703151566
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyst
20. EXAMPLE: JAVASCRIPT IS A SKILL.
THE CATALYTIC SKILLS OF FOCUS
AND PERSISTENCE WILL HELP YOU
ACQUIRE THIS SKILL FASTER.
@APRILWENSEL
21. EXAMPLE: SPEAKING AND LISTENING
ARE SKILLS.
THE CATALYTIC SKILL OF EMPATHY WILL
HELP YOU USE THESE SKILLS TO
RESOLVE CONFLICTS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
@APRILWENSEL