Whether you’re discussing tradeoffs with a designer, rallying support for a new tool, or reviewing someone’s code, emotional intelligence is essential for effective software engineering. This talk provides a framework for understanding your own behavior and cultivating empathy for others. You’ll leave inspired to apply these skills to unlock your full potential as a developer and a human being!
Software may be built on machines, but it’s built by and for human beings. To be a highly effective software engineer, you must be able to navigate human interactions successfully. Emotional intelligence is the set of competencies that will allow you to do just that!
Presented at PyTennessee February 11, 2018
34. "I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE GIVING COMPUTERS THE
ABILITY TO THINK LIKE HUMANS…I'M
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE
THINKING LIKE COMPUTERS.”
Tim Cook
@COMPASSIONCODE http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/09/watch-apple-ceo-tim-cook-
speaks-at-mit-commencement.html
35. 1. GIVE EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK IN
CODE REVIEWS
2. NAME VARIABLES
3. DESIGN APIS
4. NEGOTIATE WITH DESIGNERS
5. RALLY SUPPORT FOR A NEW TOOL
6. MOTIVATE YOURSELF
7. INTERVIEW CANDIDATES
8. MENTOR NEW HIRES
@COMPASSIONCODE
37. “IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE TOO SMART FOR
PROGRAMMING—IF THE PERSON IS NOT
SMART ENOUGH TO USE HIS INTELLIGENCE TO
MODIFY HIS SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND METHODS
OF CONVERSATION.”
Jerry Weinberg
The Psychology of Computer Programming
@COMPASSIONCODE
50. MORGAN: Alex, I saw that you set the points on a story by yourself
again. We’re supposed to vote as a team.
ALEX: I never agreed to that. The story was just a quick task. What
does it matter?
MORGAN: We have a process in place, and we’re supposed to stick to
it.
ALEX: You ALWAYS do that—bring up process. We waste SO much
time talking about process. I just want to get things done!
MORGAN: And you’re always being reckless and breaking things! We
have processes in place for a reason. If you can’t stick to them,
maybe you shouldn’t be on this team!
ALEX: Yeah, maybe I shouldn’t!
@COMPASSIONCODE
51. MORGAN: Alex, when I saw that you set the points on a story without
consulting anyone, I felt concerned because I need to trust that we
share responsibility as a team. Can you explain what happened?
ALEX: The story was just a quick, one-point task. What does it matter?
MORGAN: It seems like you value moving quickly and feel that process
sometimes gets in the way. Is that right?
ALEX: Well, yeah. I don’t want to talk about process. I just want to get
things done!
MORGAN: I also want to get things done. It’s also important to me that I
feel a sense of order. Would you be willing to send a quick note to the
team when you point a story on your own so that we at least know?
ALEX: Yeah, I guess I can do that.
@COMPASSIONCODE
59. THE PROBLEMS WE’RE
FACING IN TECH ALL
RELATE TO THIS LACK OF
CONCERN FOR HUMAN
BEINGS
@COMPASSIONCODE
60. “IF IT IS NOT TEMPERED BY
COMPASSION AND EMPATHY,
REASON CAN LEAD MEN AND
WOMEN INTO A MORAL VOID.”
Karen Armstrong
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life
@COMPASSIONCODE