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I'm interested in skills from dealing with your own emotions, through communication with close co-workers to high-stakes negotiating.
I'm curious: what are some people skills that you wish you had learned earlier in your career or that you wish your co-workers had easier access to?
Also: what are your favorite books and/or other resources that helped you?
Honestly and simplicity are the best policy. Don't bs, don't overpromise, own up to your failure, and follow-through on the things you say you'll do (and it will be easy to do this if you are honest about what you can / can't do)
Favorite book: 7 Habits of Highly Successful People; the title sounds like a business book but it's really about how to be a better person / friend / parent / colleague / etc
Try really hard not to be negative, even when there is reason to be. Try not to be openly negative about the company or a particular employee. It's poison for you and your teammates and makes you feel worse.
Don't get defensive when someone makes suggestions to your code (I still battle this).
Don't base your self worth by other people's compliments. They're nice, but the company complements you every time they cut you a check.
When someone does compliment you, the best reaction is a simple, "Thanks!"
The people you work with are called colleagues, not friends. Sometimes it can hop over, but don't divulge personal information to a colleague that should only be shared amongst friends.
Keep your behavior professional, even if the company's culture isn't so much. Also, never get drunk at company parties.
Don't be an asshole. I can't stress this one enough. I don't care how smart you are, if you are an asshole, your career is not gonna work out. Try really hard not to be negative, even when there is reason to be. Try not to be openly negative about the company or a particular employee. It's poison for you and your teammates and makes you feel worse. Don't get defensive when someone makes suggestions to your code (I st…
Drinking at company parties is so on point. If you need to drink a lot, make an appearance at the party and go drinking with trusted friends after.
-Be impeccable with your word.
-Don't take anything personally.
-Don't make assumptions.
-Always do your best.
That communication is incredibly important.
That the higher up the org chart someone is the busier they are. So what you spend 40 hours a week thinking about they might not spend 45 minutes thinking about. So over-communicate and remind them of important information about the project. Because they will forget lots of important details, and things that are glaringly obvious to you won't even show up on their radar.
How to sell.
Well... turns out just because I like to hear feedback or orders directly, doesn't mean everyone else does. Part of why your manager treads carefully is because they have to try and create a shared language across your whole team (and really good managers know how to talk to each of their directs because they know exactly what kind of tone is effective for each of them).
Not everyone is the same. Understand that everyone likes to be treated well, but the way you do that is different. Empathy is an extremely underrated skill to have.
Don't be an asshole. I can't stress this one enough. I don't care how smart you are, if you are an asshole, your career is not gonna work out. Try really hard not to be negative, even when there is reason to be. Try not to be openly negative about the company or a particular employee. It's poison for you and your teammates and makes you feel worse. Don't get defensive when someone makes suggestions to your code (I st…
Compliment other people and good ideas.
I've become conscious about things like mansplaining and talking over people.
Don't let technology get in the way of human interaction.
When you do something offensive (it happens, even if rarely), apologize.